International calls for end to renewed hostilities in ’frozen conflict’

by  Martin Banks

Pedro Agramunt, president of its parliamentary assembly, said he was "extremely worried" at the upsurge in violence which has cost an estimated 35 lives, including 12 Azerbaijani servicemen, in recent days.

He issued a statement which called for "the withdrawal of all Armenian armed troops from occupied Azerbaijani territories in compliance with UN Security Council resolutions". 

The clashes have been called the "largest-scale hostilities" since a 1994 truce ended a war in which Armenian-backed fighters seized the territory from Azerbaijan.

Clashes between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces continued on Sunday (3 April), despite Baku announcing a ceasefire after the worst outbreak of violence in two decades over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region sparked international pressure to stop fighting.

Azerbaijan said one of its helicopters was shot down as its forces took control of several strategic heights and a village in Armenian-controlled territory.

On Monday, Agramunt said, "I am extremely worried at the reports of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and deeply saddened at the loss of life and call on both sides to honour the cease-fire and swiftly resume negotiations towards a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."

Recalling that both Armenia and Azerbaijan committed themselves, when joining the Council of Europe in 2001, to use only peaceful means for settling their conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Agramunt urged both governments to refrain from using violence and welcomed the news of a unilateral cease-fire reportedly announced by the Azeri authorities.

Both Russia and the West appealed to all sides to show restraint, with key regional power broker President Vladimir Putin calling Saturday for an "immediate ceasefire".

US Secretary of State John Kerry urged the arch foes to return to peace talks under the auspices of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), reiterating "there is no military solution to the conflict".

EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini called on both parties to stop the fighting, avoid statements that could result in escalation and observe the ceasefire.

The EU recently called the Nagorno-Karabakh status quo "unsustainable".

Further comment came from Azay Guliyev, a senior MP in Azerbaijan, who accused Armenian armed forces of "grossly violating the ceasefire" and attacking Azerbaijani settlements and refugee camps.

As a result, several civilians were killed and wounded, tens of public buildings and private houses were destroyed.

The parliamentarian added, "Azerbaijani armed forces took necessary steps to ensure the safety of the civilians and stop provocations and aggressive actions of Armenia.

He said Azerbaijani remained committed to a negotiated settlement of the conflict but, despite this, "Armenian armed forces continue its provocations, shelling of Azerbaijan's positions along the contact line with heavy weapons, including artillery."

Such actions, he argued, merely served to "increase tensions and destabilise the situation."

Guliyev said, "The unlawful deployment of Armenian armed forces on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan remains the main reason of the deterioration of situation and the cause of serious threat to the peace and stability in the region."

The "unacceptability" of the status-quo has repeatedly been pointed out by the presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries-US, Russia and France.

Several UN Security Council resolutions have condemned the use of force against Azerbaijan and the occupation of its territories and reaffirmed its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The UN resolutions affirm Nagorno Karabakh's right to be part of Azerbaijan and demand "immediate, complete and unconditional" withdrawal of "occupying forces" from the territories of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan has now called on the OSCE to press Armenia to honour the Security Council resolutions.