YEREVAN. – Azerbaijan’s attempts to use the religion factor in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are extremely dangerous in the current situation. 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, said the aforementioned at a press conference on Tuesday.

The minister noted that the Azerbaijani authorities make belligerent statements and criticize the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs—who are mandated to make efforts to resolve this conflict—, on a regular basis.

“[But] this time they went even further, stating that Azerbaijan is a Muslim country, and accused the co-chairs of Islamophobia,” Nalbandian said.

The Armenian FM added, however, that the conferences and shows which Azerbaijan holds cannot distort reality.

“The criticism of Azerbaijan is perceived in Baku as a conspiracy organized by Armenia,” the minister said. “Such an inadequate approach is manifested also in the [Karabakh] negotiation process.”

Edward Nalbandian stated that even though Azerbaijan has always bragged about its petrodollars, the recent statement by the minister of economy showed that Baku realizes that its standing is based solely on oil.