Nalbandian during Thursday's NAM session

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt— Armenia’s Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian accused Azerbaijan of continuing to promote racism, ethnic hatred and discrimination.

Speaking at a ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, also said that Baku’s statements run counter to international norms and impede the Karabakh peace process.

The Movement, known as NAM, is a grouping of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2011, the movement had 120 members and 17 observer countries. Azerbaijan joined NAM in 2011.

Nalbandian specifically targeted Azerbaijan’s continued military rhetoric, saying that Baku’s statements run counter to the spirit of OSCE Minsk Group-mediated negotiations.

“The Azeri approach not only threatens the peace process and the fragile situation in the conflict zone, but also contradicts the main principles of NAM,” said Nalbandian referring to a declaration that emerged from the group’s 1955 conference in Bandung, Indonesia, in which respect for human rights was highlighted.

“Although a member of NAB only for one year, Azerbaijan has already violated the principles by promoting discrimination and ethnic hatred. This is the only explanation that can be given to recent statements of the Azeri leadership who said Armenians worldwide were Azerbaijan’s number one enemy,” added Nalbandian.

On the sidelines of the NAM meeting, Nalbandian also met with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi. During the meeting, Nalbandian invited Salehi to visit Yerevan and continued the coordination efforts of bi-lateral relations and agreements.

Nalbandian also said that Tehran is against hostilities between its neighbors, while Salehi highlighted the historical ties between Iran and Armenia, stressing that neighboring states should work together in a friendly atmosphere to avoid any conflict.