News - Toivo Klaar arrives in Baku; Bayramov complains about ‘smear campaign’

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov received on Wednesday the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Toivo Klaar, Azerbaijani media reported. According to a statement by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, the two officials exchanged views on the prospects for a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, issues of normalization of relations between the two countries, the recent situation in the region, “steps taken towards the reintegration of the local Armenian population of the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.” Bayramov said that the Azerbaijani side is interested “in the positive outcome of the meetings on the peace agenda, held through the mediation of international partners, including the European Union, and that after 30 years, a historic opportunity has emerged in the region to ensure peace and stability.” “In particular, the inadmissibility of revanchist statements, as well as a slanderous campaign against our country was emphasized,” Azerbaijani media write. In addition, at the meeting with Klaar, the head of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry made a number of contradictory statements. The first concerned "the continuation of the registration process of local Armenian residents", and the second was a justification for the forced displacement of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. “It was also noted that the departure of the Armenian residents of Karabakh is not related to any coercion, and that recent visits of UN officials to the region and statements made after the visit once again confirm this. At the meeting, the parties also discussed other issues of mutual interest,” the statement said.