Ilham Aliyev received the heads of security bodies and special services of CIS member states. Representatives of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan took part in the meeting. The President of Azerbaijan noted that an opportunity has been created to strengthen security and establish peace in the region, and Baku believes that there is no alternative to it.
Aliyev noted that one of the reasons for Baku's aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh on September 19 was that Armenia allegedly presented territorial claims to Azerbaijan, and on September 9, the authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh decided to hold elections and elect a new leader, which forced Azerbaijan to take action. It is noteworthy that Aliyev once again claimed that the Azerbaijani forces did not target the civilian objects of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the civilian population was allegedly not harmed.
He blamed the West, noted that some countries, particularly France, had launched a provocative campaign against Azerbaijan, placing all the blame on Baku. Aliyev also blamed the Western media for biased coverage of recent regional developments.
Referring to the settlement process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Aliyev noted that Baku is not going to accept the mediation efforts of Paris.
Aliyev also expressed his bewilderment as to why the Prime Minister of Armenia went to Granada, according to his definition, to participate in some incomprehensible meeting where Azerbaijan was discussed without Azerbaijan. By the way, the Prime Minister of Armenia expressed regret for that decision a day before the Granada meeting, when it became known that Baku would not participate in the previously announced five-party talks, and also emphasized that Yerevan will go and present the views of the Armenian side. In the joint statement adopted as a result of the meeting of Nikol Pashinyan, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Charles Michel, the name of Azerbaijan is mentioned only three times, when it is noted that the parties are committed to all efforts aimed at the regulation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the inviolability of the borders and territorial integrity of the countries. In the third case, Azerbaijan as well as Armenia are called to release the captives.
Condemning the role of the West, Aliyev praised Moscow's mediation efforts. “Russia is our neighbor and ally, as well as Armenia's ally. Russia is located in our region, unlike countries thousands of kilometers away,” said Aliyev.
He added that the meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia was supposed to take place in Bishkek on October 12 at the suggestion of the Russian side, but Yerevan refused. Aliyev, who resigned one day before the meeting in Granada, commented that Yerevan does not want peace. Meanwhile, the Armenian Foreign Ministry clarified that on October 4, Yerevan informed the CIS Executive Committee in a written form that the Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia will participate in the meeting of the Council in Bishkek.
According to the President of Azerbaijan, if the Armenian side rejects the mediation of the Russian Federation in the settlement of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, direct negotiations between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan can be an alternative to it.
