The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry on September 8 briefed foreign diplomats about the situation in the region, including the buildup of Armenian troops and military equipment on the border between the countries and in Karabakh.

The briefing was held by Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev and presidential envoy for special assignments Elchin Amirbekov.

The Foreign Ministry said that in recent days, there has been an intensification of military provocations along the undemarcated Armenian-Azerbaijani state border and in the Karabakh region. Armenia has been openly digging new trenches, erecting fortifications, and building up personnel and military equipment in preparation for a "reckless military gamble."

The ministry also noted that the Armenian armed forces of about 10,000 people continue to be illegally stationed on Azerbaijani territory. Dozens of tanks and other armored vehicles, more than 200 units of heavy artillery, including multiple launch rocket systems, dozens of units of various electronic warfare equipment, and about 200 mortars are currently deployed on the territory of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily deployed.

The Foreign Ministry said that Yerevan, in violation of its commitments, provides technical, military, logistical, and financial support for the deployment of these forces, which are "funded directly from the Armenian state budget."

The briefing comes amid growing tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The two countries have been locked in a conflict over the Karabakh region since the early 1990s. A ceasefire was signed in 2020, but there have been repeated violations since then.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry warned that the Armenian military buildup is a threat to peace and stability in the region. It called on Armenia to withdraw its troops from Azerbaijani territory and to fulfill its commitments under the ceasefire agreement. (ILKHA)