Month: April 2016

Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian continues to inform a number of his international counterparts and the heads of international organizations on the aggression of Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh.

On April 4-5 Edward Nalbandian had phone conversations with Foreign Minister of Germany, the OSCE Chairperson-in-office Frank-Walter Steinmeier, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of European Commission Federica Mogherini, Foreign minister of Belarus Vladimir Makei, Foreign Minister of Georgia Mikheil Janelidze, Foreign Minister of Litva Linas Linkevičius, Foreign Minister of Iran Javad Zarif, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Igor Popov, James Warlick and Pierre Andrieu. The current situation was extensively discussed with Michaëlle Jean, the Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie.

Foreign Minister of Armenia briefed his interlocutors on the continuing large-scale offensive by Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as introduced the consequences of missile attacks against civilian objects and peaceful population in Artsakh.

Minister Nalbandian emphasized that Azerbaijan disseminates propaganda disinformation in parallel to the military operations, in a futile attempt to justify its aggressive actions, targeting of civilian objects and peaceful population.

“On numerous occasions Armenia has warned that Azerbaijan intentionally takes the path of escalation of the situation and has an overt intention to use force. We have drawn the attention of the international community that in the absence of the practical measures to bring Baku to order, the aggressive stance of Azerbaijan is getting out of control and this is what we witness today. The urgent and definite steps of the international community are ever more imperative now to stabilize the situation, and to bring Azerbaijan back to the table of negotiations, as a side which has been rejecting to negotiate under the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and has attempted to impose its maximalist approaches by its aggressive actions”, said the Foreign Minister of Armenia.

Edward Nalbandian’s interlocutors agreed that the use of force is inadmissible and that there is no alternative to the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They deemed imperative to immediately cease the fire and resume the negotiations under the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will arrive in Nagorno Karabakh by the end of the day to contribute to the de-escalation of violence, TASS reports, quoting a source in the OSCE.

The visit aims to “establish dialogue with the political leadership of Armenia and Azerbaijan with a view of ensuring the return of all parties to the conflict to the negotiating table.”

The OSCE Minsk Group has issued the following statement today:

We, the representatives of the OSCE Minsk Group countries (Russian Federation, the United States of America, France, Belarus, Finland, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Turkey),  as well as the incoming Austrian OSCE Chair (2017) and the Serbian OSCE Chair (2015), strongly condemn the outbreak of unprecedented violence along the Line of Contact.  We extend our condolences to all affected families. We urge the sides to cease using force immediately.  There is no military solution to the conflict.

The deterioration of the situation on the ground demonstrates the need for an immediate negotiation, under the auspices of the Co-chairs, on a comprehensive settlement.

The representatives of the Minsk Group member states affirm their support for the Russian, American, and French Co-Chairs’ mediation efforts and welcome their plans to undertake direct consultations with the sides as soon as possible.

Escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict could lead to a major conflict in the Caucasus region, the secretary general of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) told Sputnik Serbia on Tuesday.

“This [escalation] threatens with the outbreak of a very big conflict in the Caucasus region that’s why the leaders, first of all of Azerbaijan, should understand it,” Nikolay Bordyuzha said.

He added that the CSTO was participating in the settlement of the conflict by political means.

“Today we should take all the necessary measures to prevent the conflict from growing, to stop it, to stop warfare, bombardments,” Bordyuzha said.

President Serzh Sargsyan attended today the funeral of Sasun Mkrtchyan, one of the soldiers killed in clashes along the Nagorno Karabakh line of contact. The funeral service was held with military honors.
At the service, the President of Armenia spoke the words of condolences and support:

“Dear compatriots, distinguished parents of Sasoun Mkrtchian, family, and friends. Today, we say good-by to the Armenian soldier who stepped into eternity; a soldier, who crowned with glory his own name, a soldier, who crowned with glory the family which raised him. We have gathered here to bow to the heroism of Sasoun Mkrtchian and our other martyrs.

All those, who argue or doubt on how the Armenian nation has survived until 21st century in this tough region, must understand that they can find the answer right here, in the minds and on the lips of the fallen martyrs. Conscious death is immortality. We fought to defend our homes, our families, our identity. And our being here today, in this region is the most rock-solid proof of how we can fight. The ethnic and religious composition of this region changed before the eyes of the Armenian people a number of times. Many-many had come and had gone, many more will come and go, but we lived, we live, and we will live, because we know the formula of eternal life.

Events happening in Artsakh today is just another challenge for the Armenian nation which this time has be imposed on us by the leadership of Azerbaijan. I have no doubt that we will overcome it with honor yet again. Blinded with Armenophobia, drunk with the scent of oil, the Azerbaijani authorities do not comprehend that power is not measured by the number of tanks. Power is the light which emanates from the new generations in Artsakh and Armenia, and today that light has united us all, made us one iron fist, which will fall on the head of the foe which threatens our security.

Today, our thoughts are with our troops and officers who stand at the border. Each soldier’s step into immortality is a wound on our hearts, but actions of our troops make our hearts even stronger, endow us with resolve and persistence.

Today, we have become one, and our unity will nourish our future generation. I have to state that we have no illusions, we have no powerful sponsors, but we have sympathy of the just people all over the world, we have everything to defend our homes, our Fatherland.

Dear Sasoun, rest assured that we will carry on with your and your friends sacred mission. Rest in peace, Soldier of Fatherland.”

The High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini spoke this morning with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov, and with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian concerning the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The HR/VP urged the immediate de-escalation of violence, an end to the targeting of civilians and strict observance of the ceasefire by all parties. The High Representative reiterated that a large-scale conflict is in the interest of no-one. The conflict requires a comprehensive and peaceful solution, not a military one.

The HR/VP once again reiterated, as she did during her recent visits to Baku and Yerevan, the European Union’s full support to the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and the three Co-Chairs, urging both sides to resume the negotiations on a comprehensive settlement of the conflict. In this context, the High Representative stressed that all parties must take the necessary steps to create an environment conducive to successful negotiations, including avoiding actions and statements which could further complicate the already complex environment.

The High Representative will personally remain in close contact with her Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts, as well as through EU Special Representative Herbert Salber.

“No Armenian military positions are under Azerbaijani control at this point,” Armenia’s First Deputy Defense Minister David Tonoyan told reporters today.

As for reports on the violation of truce, Tonoyan said “shooting continues and no ceasefire has been established.”

“There is an agreement on maintenance of truce, but the rival keeps shooting,” he concluded.

On April 6-7, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan will conduct an official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany.

In the framework of the visit, the President of Armenia will meet with the highest leadership of Germany – President Joachim Gauck, Chancellor Angela Merkel, President of Bundestag Norbert Lammert, Minister of Foreign Affairs, OSCE Chairman-in-Office Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Twenty-nine Armenian soldiers have been killed, 101 wounded as a result of the clashes along the Nagorno Karabakh line of contact, Colonel Victor Arustamyan, Head of operative department of the NKR Defense Army, told a press conference today. He said that another 28 servicemen are missing.

The Armenian side has lost 14 tanks, while the Azerbaijani side has lost 24 tanks, 4 infantry fighting vehicles, 2 helicopters, 12 drones and 1 Grad multiple launch rocket system.

The Defense Ministry also presented an intercepted recording of a phone conversation between two Azeri women, according to which the number of the casualties on the Azerbaijani side exceeds 2,000.

He said that the status quo that existed before April 1 has been restored, no Armenia positions or regions are under Azerbaijani control.

Col. Arustamyan added that the ceasefire violations by the Azerbaijani side side continued even after the agreement on cessation of hostilities at midday. The rival kept firing in the direction for Martuni, Martakert and Talish, although the ceasefire violations were not very intensive.

At a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, Ambassador James Warlick, representing the three Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group, and the Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, informed the 57 OSCE participating States about recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Warlick and Kasprzyk welcomed news about the cessation of hostilities and urged the sides to respect the ceasefire. They stressed that it is important to return to the political process on the basis of a sustainable ceasefire. OSCE participating States agreed  that the latest escalation is deeply worrying and that it is necessary for the OSCE to continue playing a central role in facilitating a peaceful settlement. All participating States should support the activities of the Minsk Group and those of its Co-Chairs.

The Co-Chairs announced that they will travel to the region shortly, together with Ambassador Kasprzyk. Ambassador Kasprzyk will also travel to the areas affected by the military escalation as soon as the situation permits.

In Berlin, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said: “Reports on the cessation of hostilities are encouraging. Our immediate efforts must now focus on stabilizing the ceasefire and preventing any new escalation. Hostilities must stop in an effective and lasting way. In this regard, I welcome the early visit of the Co-Chairs to the region. I remain in close contact with the sides and other international actors.”