Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov’s recent remarks at the 31st OSCE Ministerial Council meeting exemplify Baku’s classic approach to manipulative diplomacy. These statements aim not only to mislead the international community but also to construct a narrative in which Azerbaijan portrays itself as a proponent of peace while the reality remains starkly contradictory.
Bayramov’s assertion that Armenia continues to make territorial claims against Azerbaijan is baseless and purely manipulative. Armenia’s Constitution does not challenge Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Such claims are designed to fabricate a false agenda, positioning Armenia as an obstacle to peace, while deflecting attention from Azerbaijan’s aggressive policies.
Bayramov’s portrayal of “peace” being established through the “restoration of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” ignores the reality of military aggression against Artsakh and subsequent ethnic cleansing. Thousands of Armenians were forcibly displaced from their ancestral homes. This so-called peace, framed by Baku, is built on the suffering of those displaced and oppressed, a truth that Azerbaijan attempts to mask.
The Foreign Minister’s insistence that direct bilateral negotiations are the sole viable path to resolution is a calculated effort to bypass international principles and the right to self-determination for Artsakh’s Armenians. By advocating for exclusive bilateral dialogue, Azerbaijan seeks to exclude international mediators like the OSCE, attempting to sideline mechanisms that could hold it accountable for its actions.
Bayramov’s claim that OSCE structures related to the former Minsk Group are “outdated” reflects Azerbaijan’s strategy to diminish the organization’s role in conflict resolution. This aligns with its broader approach to neutralize international bodies that might challenge its aggressive policies or advocate for the rights of affected populations.
Bayramov’s remarks about the international community’s “responsibility” not to harm ongoing processes are thinly veiled threats designed to deter global scrutiny of Azerbaijan’s actions. This rhetoric, aimed at preventing international pressure, highlights Baku’s reluctance to comply with global norms while continuing to violate them.
Bayramov’s statements underscore Azerbaijan’s attempt to dominate the peace narrative through false accusations and manipulative language. The international community must remain vigilant and reject such distortions, consistently addressing both Azerbaijan’s aggression and its violations of human rights in the region.
Armenia must respond firmly and methodically to this propaganda by relying on international law, verified evidence, and persistent advocacy. As Azerbaijan escalates its information warfare, it is crucial to expose and counter its manipulative diplomacy, which only obstructs the path to genuine peace.
