Azerbaijan and Armenia made serious accusations against each other at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Foreign Minister Baerbock called for the protection of the civilian population.
After Azerbaijan conquered the Nagorno-Karabakh region inhabited by Armenians, both countries made serious accusations against each other before the UN Security Council.
While Armenia spoke of “ethnic cleansing” by its troops, Azerbaijan described its actions as an “anti-terror measure” before the most powerful body in the United Nations.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called for de-escalation: “What the people in the region need is a lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. And that can only be achieved at the negotiating table.”
The authoritarian-run Azerbaijan had attacked the Nagorno-Karabakh region on its territory, which is predominantly inhabited by Armenians, with rockets and artillery since Tuesday morning in an attempt to conquer it. On Wednesday, the militarily inferior Armenians gave up. Many of them now fear being driven from their homeland or, if they stay, becoming the target of Azerbaijani violence. According to Armenian media, at least 200 people have been killed and more than 400 injured in the fighting over the past few days.
Circles: No EU declaration due to blockade of Hungary
Baerbock, who was in New York for the UN general debate, emphasized: “Now is the time for de-escalation.” At the same time, the Green politician warned against destabilizing Armenian democracy and a complete cessation of military actions. The reports of a ceasefire had been noted. “But what we need is a complete end to the violence.”
Azerbaijan has the responsibility to protect the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. An expulsion or forced migration of ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh is unacceptable. At the same time, the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Armenia and Azerbaijan should not be called into question.
German delegation circles in New York said it was regrettable “that Hungary was the only member state that was not prepared to support a joint EU declaration and blocked it.” There were discussions about sanctions that Germany would have been willing to accept.
UN calls for dialogue – Russia calls for an end to the fighting
At the Security Council meeting, the United Nations called for “real dialogue between the government of Azerbaijan and representatives of the region.” The top priority is to protect the civilian population.
Russia’s deputy UN ambassador Dmitri Polyanski said that now it was necessary to “prevent a resumption of fighting and steer the situation back in a political direction.” The presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia committed to de-escalation in telephone conversations with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.
Delegations negotiate the future of Nagorno-Karabakh
Representatives of the Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Azerbaijani government met yesterday for a first round of talks on the future of the Caucasus region, which has been disputed between Armenia and Azerbaijan for decades.
According to the presidential office, the topic of the meeting in the Azerbaijani city of Yevlakh was the reintegration of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenian population there into Azerbaijan. The office of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that the representatives from Nagorno-Karabakh had asked for fuel and food. The Azerbaijani delegation has agreed to provide humanitarian aid. The President’s Office announced that another round of talks would follow shortly.
People are fleeing Nagorno-Karabakh
Meanwhile, evacuation measures continue in large parts of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Russian side said that so far 5,000 civilians had been brought to safety from particularly dangerous places. Apparently many Armenians in the region fear being driven from their homeland or, if they stay, becoming the target of Azerbaijani violence.
The human rights commissioner for the internationally unrecognized Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), Gegam Stepanyan, had previously spoken of the evacuation of several towns.
EU sends humanitarian aid
In order to help the displaced people in the region, the EU wants to make 500,000 euros available for humanitarian aid. The support is in addition to the 1.17 million euros that have been made available since the beginning of the year, the European Commission said. In addition to cash to cover basic needs, those affected should be offered accommodation and psychosocial support.
Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Janez Lenarcic called on all parties to the conflict to grant aid organizations unhindered and immediate access. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemned Azerbaijan’s attack and called for unhindered humanitarian access. EU Council President Charles Michel had already spoken to Aliyev on the phone on Wednesday evening and criticized the use of force, according to the Council. He demanded that the government in Baku present “credible guarantees” for the rights and security of the Armenian population and declare an amnesty.