Russia, UN call for cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh
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Russian peacekeepers are actively engaged in evacuating civilians and providing medical assistance in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Russian Foreign Ministry says.
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Russian peacekeepers are seen deployed at the Lachin corridor, the Armenian-populated breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region’s only land link with Armenia, on December 26, 2022 (AFP)
Russia and the United Nations have jointly called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh area, which is an enclave populated by Armenians within Azerbaijan.
Tensions have escalated in the Caucasus, following a military operation launched by Azerbaijan against what they consider separatists in the region.
Baku has issued a stern warning that its military operation in the Armenian-majority Nagorno-Karabakh region will persist until its objectives are met.
Russia's plea for peace
Recognized as a traditional power broker in the region, Russia finds itself in a delicate position as it grapples with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement, urging the warring parties to "immediately stop the bloodshed, stop hostilities, and eliminate civilian casualties." Additionally, Russia disclosed that its 2,000-strong peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh is actively engaged in evacuating civilians and providing medical assistance.
Here's all you need to know about the simmering tension in the #NagornoKarabakh region between #Armenia and #Azerbaijan. pic.twitter.com/bQ7ItwvpKA
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 19, 2023
Likewise, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called for an end to the hostilities, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the 2020 ceasefire agreement. His spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, stated that Guterres "in the strongest terms" demanded an immediate halt to the fighting and a reduction in tensions.
International diplomatic efforts
The United States and France have made swift diplomatic moves in response to the Azerbaijani offensive. Paris has called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to address the crisis, coinciding with the annual General Assembly session in New York.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held phone conversations with the leaders of both Armenia and Azerbaijan, urging Azerbaijan to "cease military actions in Nagorno-Karabakh immediately and deescalate the situation," according to State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller.
French President Emmanuel Macron also engaged in discussions with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The international community is increasingly concerned about the potential for a renewed conflict in the volatile Caucasus region.
Recent updates
Today, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said its "anti-terrorist activities" in Nagorno-Karabakh were ongoing successfully, with positions and military vehicles allegedly belonging to "formations of the Armenian armed forces" eliminated.
In a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the Azerbaijani President said the ongoing operation in Nagorno-Karabakh would end if Armenian "separatists" lay down their arms.
Read more: Armenia confirms Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijani sovereign territory
Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh on Tuesday held the international community responsible for its inability to prevent a renewed conflict in the breakaway region.
This came after Azerbaijan announced it launched an "anti-terror" military operation, prompting a demand for surrender from Armenian-supported forces.
"By ignoring warnings about Azerbaijan's criminal intentions and refusing to act accordingly, all the responsible international actors failed to prevent yet another Azerbaijani (act of) aggression against Artsakh," Armenian unrecognized authorities said in a statement, using the Armenian term for Karabakh.
Following the initiation of the Azeri operation, protests erupted in Yerevan on Tuesday demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The demonstrations turned into clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers in front of the Armenian government building in Yerevan, leading to multiple injuries and detentions.
Meanwhile, Andranik Tevanyan, the head of the Mother Armenia opposition bloc, announced plans to hold another rally near the government building on Republic Square in downtown Yerevan on Wednesday evening.
"We previously decided to hold a large rally on Republic Square at 19:00 [local time, 15:00 GMT]," Tevanyan said in a video address on social media.
Read more: Protesters in Yerevan block Russian Embassy
The Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh was at the center of two wars between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
In the 1990s, Armenia defeated Azerbaijan and took control of the region, which is an internationally recognized part of Azerbaijan. Thirty years later, the latter took revenge.
After the 2020 war, Yerevan was forced to cede several territories it had controlled for decades.
The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh remains volatile, and Armenia has accused Azerbaijan earlier of moving troops near the region recently, raising concerns of a new large-scale conflict.
In May, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared that Armenia recognized the region as Azerbaijani territory. However, the situation has since taken a troubling turn, with accusations flying from both sides.
