Tensions on the border with Azerbaijan persist today and despite his pledge not to use force or threaten to use force, the President of Azerbaijan continues to threaten the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia and to make groundless territorial claims. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated this during his address to the 43rd session of the Francophone Forum of Ministers.

Mirzoyan also said, as reported to Armenian News-NEWS.am by the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry:

"We notice that collective security mechanisms based on observing the principles of the UN Charter, in particular sovereign equality, non-use of force against the territorial integrity of any state, can no longer guarantee security from the aggressive policies of some states.

One of the first victims of this was Armenia, against whose territorial integrity and sovereignty since May of last year, and the last time, on September 13-14, 2022 Azerbaijan carried out aggression, which led to the occupation of the sovereign territory of Armenia, hundreds of victims and wounded, thousands of displaced persons and civilians, the destruction of infrastructure.

Let us also not forget the gross violations of international humanitarian law committed by the Azerbaijani military against Armenian prisoners of war, including female soldiers, which horrified the world.

We welcome the fact that many countries have recognized the violation of Armenia's territorial integrity and demanded withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from the sovereign territory of Armenia.

Armenia remains committed to the peaceful resolution of all issues related to the conflict, including ensuring the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, and thanks international partners who are making efforts to this end.

Armenia expresses its support to the documents regarding the draft strategic framework of Francophonie, declaration on the French language and provisions of the accession procedure.

It is important that the Francophone member countries and governments have expressed their solidarity with Armenia.

I would like to return to the request of the Albanian delegation to resume the discussion on the items related to Armenia, which the Armenian delegation disagrees with for the following reasons.

These points are very balanced and are the result of compromises that Armenia has made efforts to make. We should respect the work of the Document Negotiating Committee, its chair and members.

We do not think that the Albanian delegation will be able to present, as it has stated, draft points that can find consensus in our conference. We think it is ineffective to start new discussions, which can only lead to a deadlock.

There is already a consensus on the paragraphs concerning Armenia during the discussions of the Document Negotiating Committee, and if the Albanian delegation has difficulty in approving it, it can make a reservation to those paragraphs."