“This is an old problem, a long-standing conflict. Unfortunately, there was an outbreak of violence. A compromise should be found. I thought we were close to it a few years ago, but things turned out to be different.”
With so many conflicts in the world, Nagorno-Karabakh gets little attention. The bloody fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces in the mountainous enclave this week was a reminder that it should. Tanks and artillery traded fire; at least 50 people were killed in four days. The spectre loomed of a wider war, one that could draw in Russia, Turkey and Iran. A ceasefire brokered in Moscow on April 5th appears to be holding for now. But it brought the two foes no closer to peace.
Nagorno-Karabakh is one of the most dangerous places in the world today. With Russia and Turkey at odds in Syria, a proxy fight may be escalating. The US has a national security interest in preventing an all-out war, with regional implications.
Areas expected to be discussed include the Palestinian territories, Libya, Yemen, Syria and the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, which has been the scene of renewed violence between Azeri and ethnic Armenian forces.
Azerbaijan has wasted years in denunciations of “Armenian aggression” without ever offering the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh credible guarantees that it respects their rights and does not merely wish to destroy them. A just solution of the conflict will require a serious commitment by both sides to make compromises and live together.
“It’s a rather crucial step, at least in memory of those tortured and mutilated people, for the sake of their families, friends and all the people in the world, who bothered, sympathized and watched those barbaric cadres. Firstly, it’s necessary to give moral assessment to those atrocities. Secondly, it’s important from the viewpoint of international policy and international law, i.e. calling things by their names. At least, scrutinized investigation of all incidents should be implemented, and this, of course, is another argument in favor of the Armenian side.”
Slogans like “We are owners of Artsakh,” “No to rag authorities,” “We are the decision-makers” and etc. were announced by the demonstrators. The police accompanied the demonstrators, then by RF Embassy it not only pushed away the reporters, but also hindered their work. By RF Embassy the police made the demonstrators separate in two parts, reasoning that they obstacle pedestrian’s road. They didn’t allow the reporters to perform their duty.
Protest March to the Embassy of Russia (Live)
“Why doesn’t Azerbaijan hold direct negotiations with Karabakh. Presently we lose both sides. And why don’t we want to observe recent reports on beheading of Armenian soldiers? Why don’t we want to notice footages, telling about torturing of Armenian hostages…I realize, it’s important to take into consideration interests of each side, and doesn’t the truth, as a party, interest anyone?” he said, adding that a clear answer should be given to what had happened.
The announcement of the Putin-Rouhani-Aliyev summit followed a rapid escalation of the “frozen conflict” between Azerbaijan and neighboring Armenia over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, which officially is a part of Azerbaijan.
