Armenia request for UNSC to discuss clashes with Azerbaijan accepted

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 Sep 2022 20:44

France, the chair of the UN Security Council for the month, agreed to Armenia's request for a UNSC meeting on Yerevan's clashes with Azerbaijan.

Armenia and Azerbaijan are still exchanging the blame over Tuesday's attacks

France accepted on Tuesday Armenia's request for the UN Security Council to discuss the recent tensions and escalation between Yerevan and Baku, with consultation due to take place on September 14, Russian news agency Sputnik reported, citing a source in the United Nations.

"France has requested consultations under AOB (any other business) to discuss the Armenia letter after tomorrow's Syria meeting," the source said.

France is chairing the UN Security Council for the month of September.

Yerevan had called for the UN Security Council to convene over Azerbaijan's "large-scale aggression", a letter sent by the country's UN mission to France read.

"Upon instructions from my Government, I have the honour to transmit herewith the letter from H.E. Mr. Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, with a request to convene an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, based on the Article 35 (1) of the IIN Charter," the letter said.

The letter cited the offensive committed by Azerbaijan on September 13, which Armenia's mission said "poses an imminent threat to international peace and security."

Last night, Armenia accused Azerbaijan of striking its territory with artillery and drones. This comes right after a ceasefire was reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani Haqqn news portal, which cited sources, revealed that Yerevan and Baku have agreed to a truce beginning at 05:00 GMT. Shortly after, the ceasefire collapsed after the fighting renewed.

The Armenian defense ministry said there were casualties on its side. In turn, Baku said that the Armenian military fired at the positions of the Azerbaijani troops on the border and clashes ensued. A total of 49 Armenian soldiers were killed as a result of shelling on the border with Azerbaijan, Pashinyan said on Tuesday.

Yerevan and Baku agreed on a ceasefire starting 05:00 GMT on Tuesday.

Clashes erupt every now and then between both sides despite a Russian-backed ceasefire agreement. Last month, tensions erupted over Nagorno-Karabakh as three soldiers were killed and Azerbaijan said it had taken control of several strategic heights in the disputed region.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought two conflicts over Azerbaijan's Armenian-populated area of Nagorno-Karabakh, one in 2020 and one in the 1990s.

Six weeks of violence in the autumn of 2020 claimed over 6,500 lives and ended with a ceasefire accord sponsored by Russia. Russia sent 2,000 peacekeepers to monitor the truce, but tensions remain despite a ceasefire deal.