Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Armenia’s Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan’s visit to Stepanakert yesterday, claiming that it jeopardizes efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

According to the statement, “that illegal step” taken by an Armenian official immediately after the meeting of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Brussels, “clearly shows Armenia’s insincerity in the settlement process.”

“That illegal visit” proves that Armenia’s statements about not having territorial claims against Azerbaijan are “far from sincere”. Official Yerevan does not respect the efforts of international mediators either, according to the APA news agency, Baku asserts and assures that “Azerbaijan’s territory within the international borders all steps taken against the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan will be answered.

On the occasion of Artsakh Independence Day, official Yerevan did not send a delegation to Stepanakert, and at the end of the day, Armen Grigoryan announced in a Facebook post that he visited the fraternal memorial-pantheon of Stepanakert and laid flowers.