Pashinyan Calls for Observers as Yerevan Blasts Baku for Ignoring International Community
Armenia’s Defense Ministry reported that three Armenian soldiers were killed when Azerbaijani forces opened fired on Armenian military positions on Wednesday, exacerbating an already tense situation at the border.
Armenia’s Defense Ministry said that starting at 6 p.m. local time, Azerbaijani forces, using mortars and large-caliber weapons began the latest attack on Armenia.
Defense ministry spokesperson Aram Torosyan said that Armenian forces have returned fire in defense of their positions.
As of 10 p.m. local time, the defense ministry said that the situation on the border has been stabilized.
Azerbaijan’s defense ministry accused Armenian forces of opening fire on its positions in Kelbajar, where reportedly one soldier was injured.
Azerbaijan has continued to violate the fragile ceasefire, which was negotiated through international efforts, since it came into effect on September 14.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in a Twitter post stressed the urgent need for deploying an international observer mission in order to ensure that Azerbaijan leaves occupied territories of Armenia.
“As a result of a new attack by Azerbaijan three Armenian soldiers have been killed. This is an attack on Armenia’s independence, sovereignty and democracy. Azerbaijan’s invasion must end and must be condemned,” Pashinyan wrote in his tweet.
“This latest provocation by Azerbaijan is the continuation of the large-scale aggression against the territorial integrity of Armenia launched on September 13, and demonstrates a contempt toward calls made by the international community and U.N. Security Council members states, which urged [the sides] to maintain the agreed upon ceasefire,” said a statement from Armenia’s foreign ministry.
Official Yerevan said that Wednesday’s attack reaffirmed Armenia’s warnings that Azerbaijan is going to continue its aggressive and maximalist policies.
“Furthermore, Azerbaijan’s provocation aims to disrupt a meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries, the organization of which is being discussed,” informed the foreign ministry.
“In the current situation, we urge the international community to take decisive steps and launch the necessary mechanisms for enforcing the ceasefire agreement and apply pressure on Azerbaijan’s military and political leadership so they leave the sovereign territory of Armenia and prevent new attacks,” added the foreign ministry, which asserted that Armenia will continue to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity as defined by the U.N. Charter.
