Talking to the Russian news service, Gegham Khalatyan, Vice-President of the Union of Armenians of Russia (UAR), made a comment on a statement by Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bul-Bul oghly, who threatened Armenia with aggression, calling it “a peace-enforcement operation.”

“First, I would like to point out Mr. Bul-Bul oghly’s statement is absurd. While urging his country to commit an act of aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh, he, for some, reason, speaks of a peace-enforcement operation against Armenia. I understand this formula is in fashion now, but it makes one laugh to hear it from a person calling for a war — while people live in peace – and speaking of peace enforcement.

”It is also strange to hear warlike statements like that from a person who only recently was a member of a large delegation of Russian, Azerbaijani and Armenian cultural workers that visited Nagorno-Karabakh, Yerevan and Baku with what is known as a peace mission. This must be the reason why public diplomacy fails to produce appreciable results – it is used by people like Polad Bul-bul oghly, who have harbored a grudge against others. This can only be most upsetting.

“And the last remark on the matter. Unfortunately, Mr. Ambassador is not alone in showing this warlike attitude. Many Azerbaijani political and public figures led by their president say the same. In this context I should note that such warlike statements, together with the anti-Armenian campaign that has been conducted in Azerbaijan over the years, rule out any atmosphere of confidence, which is essential for any steps to improve relations between peoples. As a matter of fact, they are deliberately torpedoing the negotiations,” Khalatyan said.