Controversy between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has accused neighboring Armenia of posing a "fascist" threat that must be destroyed, comments that Armenia's leader called a possible attempt to justify a new conflict.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have had a series of conflicts since the late 1980s, when Nagorno-Karabakh, a region in Azerbaijan that had a predominantly Armenian population, seceded with Armenia's support.

In September 2023, Azerbaijan retook Nagorno-Karabakh, causing almost all 100,000 Armenians to flee en masse to Armenia. Since then both sides have said they want to sign a treaty to end the conflict, reports A2.

But in an interview with Azerbaijani television channels on Tuesday night, Aliyev said: "Armenia is actually a source of threat to the region. The independent state of Armenia is basically a fascist state. For almost 30 years, this country was ruled by the vassals of the ideology of fascism, reflected in their state."

"Therefore, fascism must be eradicated", he added. "He will be uprooted by the leadership of Armenia or by us. There is no other way."

In comments to Armenian state news agency Armenpress, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Yerevan remains committed to peace negotiations.

"Maybe Baku is trying to create a 'legitimate' reason for escalating tensions in the region," Armenpress agency quoted Prime Minister Pashinyan as saying.

Peace talks between the two sides have been rare and progress has been slow. The two countries do not have official diplomatic relations, and their 1,000-kilometer border remains closed and heavily militarized.

Azerbaijan has said Armenia must change its constitution to remove what Baku says are claims to its territory before a treaty can be signed. Armenia says it has no territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Aliyev said his country does not want to return to war, but that Armenia, which is several times smaller than Azerbaijan in both population and territory, is rearming for conflict.

Azerbaijan's president has previously suggested that parts of Armenia are rightfully Azerbaijan's territories.

In an interview, Mr. Aliyev said Azerbaijan would secure the Zangezur Corridor, a road linking most of the country with the Nakhchivan region and close ally Turkey.

Armenia says it is not against the opening of transport routes through its territory, but it must maintain its control over such a corridor. / Voice of America (A2 Televizion)