Russian President Putin hosts first post-war talks between Azerbaijani, Armenian leaders
By Web Deskupdated : 5 days ago
MOSCOW: 12, JANUARY, 2021: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday brought together the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan for the first time since a war last year over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, an effort to resolve problems that risk undermining the deal that ended the conflict.
A Russian-brokered cease-fire agreement in November halted the six-week conflict between Azeri and ethnic Armenian forces over the mountainous enclave and surrounding areas, locking in territorial gains for Azerbaijan. But tensions persist, with sporadic fighting, prisoners of war continuing to be held by both sides, and disagreements over how a prospective new transport corridor cutting through the region will work.
The enclave is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but both ethnic Armenians and Azeris regard it as part of their historic homelands and fought a much bigger war in the 1990s over it that left tens of thousands dead.
In opening remarks in the Kremlin, Putin said the November cease-fire deal, which saw Moscow deploy peacekeepers to the region, was being implemented.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev did not shake hands, only exchanging curt greetings as they sat down at an oval table opposite Putin.
The ceasefire deal sparked protests in Yerevan against Pashinyan whom protesters accused of bungling the war. He has since faced pressure from opponents to step down, something he has resisted. Aliyev has cast the war victory at home as an historic righting of wrongs, something Armenia rejects, and held a victory parade last month with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
For Russia, the conflict highlighted the rising influence of Azeri ally Turkey in the South Caucasus, part of the former Soviet Union that Moscow has traditionally seen as its own sphere of influence. But by brokering the deal and getting Russian peacekeepers on the ground, Putin has thwarted a stronger Turkish presence for now while expanding Moscow’s own military footprint.
It should be noted that when the clash between Azabaijan and Armenia began 9 Azerbaijanis and 2 Armenians were reported killed. At least 84 separatists have been killed and more than 200 injured in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The situation in Karabakh had been discussed between the Turkish President and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, The two leaders exchanged views on prevailing situation and focused on an immediate ceasefire.
On the other hand, a closed-door meeting of the Security Council had also been convened to consider the situation. The UN Secretary General and the British Prime Minister called for an end to the clashes in Karabakh. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has also condemned Armenia's "aggression" against Azerbaijan and called for a political solution to the conflict.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had called on Armenia to end its occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and withdraw from the region, which is an internationally recognized part of Azerbaijan.
A statement issued by the Russian presidential office on the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia said that the parties and their allies, especially Turkey, should take all possible steps for a ceasefire in order to find a peaceful solution to the issue. (04)
Russian President Putin hosts first post-war talks between Azerbaijani, Armenian leaders
By Web Deskupdated : 5 days ago
MOSCOW: 12, JANUARY, 2021: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday brought together the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan for the first time since a war last year over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, an effort to resolve problems that risk undermining the deal that ended the conflict.
A Russian-brokered cease-fire agreement in November halted the six-week conflict between Azeri and ethnic Armenian forces over the mountainous enclave and surrounding areas, locking in territorial gains for Azerbaijan. But tensions persist, with sporadic fighting, prisoners of war continuing to be held by both sides, and disagreements over how a prospective new transport corridor cutting through the region will work.
The enclave is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but both ethnic Armenians and Azeris regard it as part of their historic homelands and fought a much bigger war in the 1990s over it that left tens of thousands dead.
In opening remarks in the Kremlin, Putin said the November cease-fire deal, which saw Moscow deploy peacekeepers to the region, was being implemented.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev did not shake hands, only exchanging curt greetings as they sat down at an oval table opposite Putin.
The ceasefire deal sparked protests in Yerevan against Pashinyan whom protesters accused of bungling the war. He has since faced pressure from opponents to step down, something he has resisted. Aliyev has cast the war victory at home as an historic righting of wrongs, something Armenia rejects, and held a victory parade last month with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
For Russia, the conflict highlighted the rising influence of Azeri ally Turkey in the South Caucasus, part of the former Soviet Union that Moscow has traditionally seen as its own sphere of influence. But by brokering the deal and getting Russian peacekeepers on the ground, Putin has thwarted a stronger Turkish presence for now while expanding Moscow’s own military footprint.
It should be noted that when the clash between Azabaijan and Armenia began 9 Azerbaijanis and 2 Armenians were reported killed. At least 84 separatists have been killed and more than 200 injured in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The situation in Karabakh had been discussed between the Turkish President and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, The two leaders exchanged views on prevailing situation and focused on an immediate ceasefire.
On the other hand, a closed-door meeting of the Security Council had also been convened to consider the situation. The UN Secretary General and the British Prime Minister called for an end to the clashes in Karabakh. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has also condemned Armenia's "aggression" against Azerbaijan and called for a political solution to the conflict.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had called on Armenia to end its occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and withdraw from the region, which is an internationally recognized part of Azerbaijan.
A statement issued by the Russian presidential office on the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia said that the parties and their allies, especially Turkey, should take all possible steps for a ceasefire in order to find a peaceful solution to the issue. (04)
