Blinken calls for immediate halt to Armenia, Azerbaijan fight

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 Sep 2022 18:36

US Secretary of State Blinken said that the US would push for an immediate halt to fighting and a peace settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan despite Russian peacekeepers already being present on the field.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a moderated conversation on building a semiconductor ecosystem Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in West Lafayette, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

The US will seek an immediate end to fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in calls with leaders of the two countries amid renewed shelling on the border.

"The Secretary stressed the need for disengagement of military forces and assured Prime Minister Pashinyan that the US would push for an immediate halt to fighting and a peace settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan," State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a press release on Tuesday. In his call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Blinken expressed concerns over shelling in Armenia, Price said in a statement.

"Secretary Blinken urged President Aliyev to cease hostilities and stressed that the US would push for an immediate halt to fighting and a peace settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan," Price added.

According to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, it would be a "good thing" if Russia could utilize its clout in the area to put an end to hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"If Russia can actually use its own influence for good, which is to again calm the waters, end the violence and urge people [of Armenia and Azerbaijan] to engage in good faith on building piece, that would be a positive thing," Blinken stated during a press conference.

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.

Both Russia and Iran issued calls earlier today for resolving the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. "We are in close contact with Baku and Yerevan. We have received an appeal from the Armenian leadership with a request to assist in resolving the situation in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and through the CSTO. We hope that the agreement reached as a result of Russian mediation on a ceasefire from 9:00 Moscow time [06:00 GMT] on September 13 this year will be carried out in full," the Russian ministry said in a statement.

In the same context, Iran has expressed its readiness to help settle the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and is calling for restraint and resolution of disagreements through peaceful means and based on international law, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.

On another note, Turkey has called on Yerevan to focus on peace negotiations with Azerbaijan, expressing more alignement with Azerbaijan.

It is noteworthy to mention that both Azerbaijan and Turkey have close ties to the US, NATO, and "Israel".