Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov:
Pressure from France, Moscow negotiations, and Turkey’s support
During the 44-day Patriotic War, French President Emmanuel Macron repeatedly called Baku, demanding an immediate halt to military operations and threatening to recognize “Nagorno-Karabakh.”
President Ilham Aliyev responded firmly:
“You may recognize it — nothing will change for us. In that case, Azerbaijan will immediately sever diplomatic relations with France.”
On October 9, 2020, negotiations took place in Moscow between the foreign ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.
Baku demanded from Yerevan a concrete timetable for the withdrawal of Armenian forces.
The Armenian side refused and insisted that the Azerbaijani army return to the positions it held before September 27.
The Russian side proposed that both parties remain in their current positions and that peacekeepers be deployed.
The talks lasted several hours without result.
Bayramov contacted President Aliyev, received new instructions, and returned to the negotiation table.
At that moment, news arrived about the liberation of Hadrut — causing panic within the Armenian delegation.
The Azerbaijani side stated that the “5+2 districts” formula was no longer relevant: Jabrayil and Hadrut had already been liberated.
On the Geneva meeting and the Armenian side’s detachment from reality
On October 30, 2020, amid intense fighting, Armenian Foreign Minister Mnatsakanyan proposed an absurd idea — an exchange:
“If we withdraw our troops, will you return Gulistan and Shaumyan to us?”
Bayramov noted that this showed the Armenian side’s complete detachment from reality: while Azerbaijan was liberating its lands, Yerevan still thought in terms of occupation.
Bayramov also emphasized Turkey’s exceptional role:
“Turkey’s support was invaluable. During the 44 days of war, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu flew to Baku five times — sometimes just for a few hours — simply to show that Turkey stood with Azerbaijan.
Ankara even sent instructions to all Turkish embassies: directives from Baku would carry the same weight as those from Ankara.
We never actually used this in practice — we acted through Turkey’s Foreign Ministry.
But the very fact of such a step is a unique example of true brotherhood.”
Source: https://x.com/beztor_az/status/1986933450839081062
