Armenia-Azerbaijan Defy Nagorno-Karabakh Ceasefire Calls
The Alleged Involvement Of Turkey Has Been Denied By Azerbaijan
In the past recent few days, the Armenia-Azerbaijan forces have defied the order of a ceasefire for the ongoing deadly combat happening in the southern region of the Caucasus and have escalated the tensions further between the rival forces in the area. In the past week on Thursday, the French and Russian forces located in the area have called for a ceasefire with Armenia-Azerbaijan between the armed forces combat happening in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, as the area has seen the worst violence flare-up this year as compared to several decades.
Even after the request to pause was declined by Armenia-Azerbaijan forces, multiple explosions and heavy fire surrounded the main city area of the region overnight.
Russian and French relations with the Armenia-Azerbaijan government
Officially a part of Azerbaijan, the location is under the government of Armenians. Armenia-Azerbaijan is two of the former Soviet countries who have fought alongside over the same territory in 1988-94. Although the government of Armenia backs up the self-declared nation, they never formally acknowledged it.
There has been no clear indication of why the ongoing fighting is caused by and the recent attacks initiated on Sunday with the usage of the heaviest artillery since the 1994 ceasefire. Due to these attacks, dozens of individuals have lost their lives, along with hundreds critically injured during the bombardment of artillery. Due to these increasing combats, there are escalating fears that this conflict could turn into an international issue.
The Russian and French Presidents held a joint conference during which they discussed strategies for de-escalation of tensions in the region against Armenia-Azerbaijan forces. According to the French President Macron, Armenia-Azerbaijan forces agreed towards a joint effort to follow through with the ceasefire protocol in the region.
A statement from Kremlin says that the French and Russian armed forces halted fire in the region completely to quickly follow through to decrease the escalating tensions in the region and show utmost restraint on their part. Russia has also offered to initiate de-escalation talks with Armenia-Azerbaijan foreign ministers to start talks on peace in the region.
Russia has a military alliance with the government of Armenia and even has a military base located in the country. Alongside, Russia has also seen to be having close ties with the Azerbaijani government.
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
After the Russian and French Presidents held a joint conference regarding the matter, Kremlin issued an official statement saying that during the conference, the discussion was held regarding any steps taken in the future concerning the Minsk Group of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe should take that would help to resolve the combat issue with Armenia-Azerbaijan forces. The Minsk group is an organization that was set up in the year 1992, and the leaders of this group are the United States, Russia, and France.
Both the leaders have expressed their eagerness to show an official statement made on behalf of the group that suggests to immediately end the deadly conflict and fight in the region and work towards bringing peace and prosperity to the area.
French President Marcon has expressed his concern regarding the reports stating the Syrian mercenaries have been transported inside the border of Azerbaijan by some of the top Turkish security firms to fight alongside the Armenian-Azerbaijani soldiers. One of the fighters told BBC that he was recruited from the northern region of Syria to fight at the Nagorno-Karabakh via a route through Turkey to wear the military uniform of Azerbaijan military forces during combat.
This claim has been declined by the Turkish government, stating that this report is completely unfounded. Azerbaijan’s foreign ambassador to the United States has also denied any and all involvement of Turkey in this conflict.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a total number of nine hundred Syrian national mercenaries have been transported by Turkish security firms to Azerbaijan along with Armenian-born Syrian fighters.
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