“Baku suffers more boldly, remembering that Russia is busy in Ukraine.” Armenian and Jewish experts on the aggravation of the conflict between the countries
Yerevan and Baku blame each other for the aggravation of the conflict. Armenia stated that the armed forces of Azerbaijan began intensive artillery shelling of Armenian positions in the border areas, namely in the cities of Vardenis, Goris, Kapan and the villages of Sotk, Artanish and Ishkhanasar. In Yerevan, it is expected that the enemy has struck, including on civilian targets with the help of drones and mortars.
“According to the confirmed data of the Armenian Defense Ministry, the death toll as a result of the offensive actions of the faction on the border with Armenia is 49 people. Unfortunately, the death toll is not free,” Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.
The Azerbaijani authorities said that the shelling was a response to a “large-scale provocation” from Yerevan. In Baku, it was discovered that the Armenian infected mined the army’s supply routes and fired at some positions.
“Due to the large number of crimes of caliber and mortars, the Armenian armed forces were subjected to heavy shelling of some positions, disclosure and support of the Arab armed forces in the territory of the Dashkesan, Kelbajar and Lachin districts. Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.
The territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh has been going on since the late 1980s. After another aggravation at the end of September 2020, Azerbaijan returned under its control a small part of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh, and with the mediation of Moscow, an agreement was signed on the use of hostilities.
Under the agreement, territories were assigned to Armenia and Azerbaijan, on the basis of the presence of troops at the time of signing the document. The spiritual mission of Russia is located along the line of contact.
Armenian political scientist Stepan Grigoryan and Farid Shafiyev, head of the Center for Analysis of International Relations of Azerbaijan, spoke about the reasons for the new aggravation of the current time.
Stepan Grigoryan: Today we face the danger of a major war. Azerbaijan is an authoritarian regime. They are fairly tough prosecutors. Authoritarian regimes are unacceptable, it is difficult to negotiate with them. Yes, we are ready to negotiate. Sometimes they sit down and teach, Ilham Aliyev – Nikol Pashinyan, foreign ministers. Azerbaijan attacks. They attack for the reason that they do not like something during the appeal. Because of some question, they say: “No, you have to give it to us.” Our checks: “How? Let’s look at official documents. Here is the delimitation and demarcation of the state border.”
Azerbaijanis say they will conduct the trial as they see fit. But there it is necessary, according to the rules of the RIAC, with the mediation of incidents, different countries, different institutions. Azerbaijan is behaving aggressively.
Farid Shafiyev: This disparate side decided to give a broader response to the provocation. But this is, let’s say, the technical side of the issue. The fundamental problem is that the Armenian side is delaying the process of signing a peace treaty. it would be necessary to see practical steps: a peace treaty is the first; the second is the distinction; the third is transport lines, communications; the fourth is a humanitarian issue.
Postponement of the settlement agreement, taking into account the factors. The first is the result of the Russian-Ukrainian war, or at least a preliminary result. The second factor is the involvement of France and the United States in the negotiation process, an attempt to revive the OSCE Minsk Group. And the third factor is the elections in Turkey. They hope that somehow this can be said about diplomatic-Turkish relations.
Stepan Grigoryan: Azerbaijan is quickly showing itself, realizing that Russia is very busy in Ukraine. Plus, it is not clear how the war in Ukraine ends. Russia has had quite a few serious problems lately, Russia is not just aloof, but since it saves resources, it makes sense to throw it here, it sort of speeds up development here in Azerbaijan. Now Armenia needs other players. We are alone, no one supports us. Therefore, the West can be a player.
The format with Charles Michel is positive, they don’t fight on occasion, they don’t insult Nikol Pashinyan. And there, if you don’t want to, somehow calling yourself Ilham Aliyev. Of course, even more active players are needed, like France, like the United States, Canada, which joined Armenia, so that they also participate in the game.
Farid Shafiyev: A second site appeared in Brussels, the western site. We in Azerbaijan are looking at these sites, both non-disabling and complementary. And the Brussels platform was quite encouraging in the sense that we were quite successful on it. But on August 31, the meeting was unsuccessful. Involving someone else? I don’t think they can be intermediaries.