Armenian expert accuses Azerbaijan of torpedoing Karabakh peace process
04.12.2017,
16:16
Ruben Safrastyan, the director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, an affiliation of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, accused today Azerbaijan of torpedoing the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.
YEREVAN, December 4. /ARKA/. Ruben Safrastyan, the director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, an affiliation of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, accused today Azerbaijan of torpedoing the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. "By its non-constructive stance and constant provocations on the contact line Azerbaijan is torpedoing the negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, thereby demonstrating that it is not interested in peaceful and effective negotiations," Safrastyan said at a press conference on Monday.
According to him, Azerbaijan’s behavior is a signal that Armenia must step up its defense capability. "The Armenian side is already actively working to increase its defensive capacity, but it must be implemented at a high pace. We must be so strong that no one dare attack us," Safrastyan said. Safrastyan added that this issue is becoming especially relevant in the light of the permanent strengthening of the military potential in Azerbaijan’s exclave Nakhichevan, which historically is an Armenian territory, but today it is an exclave of Azerbaijan with the status of autonomous republic.
"The constant strengthening of Nakhichevan's military potential is a serious threat for both us and all countries of the region. We must, along with strengthening our military potential, work through diplomatic channels to convince our partners and neighbors that militarization of Nakhichevan is fraught with aggravation of the military situation not only around Karabakh, but throughout the entire South Caucasus, "Safrastyan said.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict erupted into armed clashes after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s as the predominantly Armenian-populated enclave of Azerbaijan sought to secede from Azerbaijan and declared its independence backed by a successful referendum. On May 12, 1994, the Bishkek cease-fire agreement put an end to the military operations.
A truce was brokered by Russia in 1994, although no permanent peace agreement has been signed. Since then, Nagorno-Karabakh and several adjacent regions have been under the control of Armenian forces of Karabakh.
Nagorno-Karabakh is the longest-running post-Soviet era conflict and has continued to simmer despite the relative peace of the past two decades, with snipers causing tens of deaths a year. On April 2, 2016, Azerbaijan launched military assaults along the entire perimeter of its contact line with Nagorno-Karabakh. Four days later a cease-fire was reached. ---0---
According to him, Azerbaijan’s behavior is a signal that Armenia must step up its defense capability. "The Armenian side is already actively working to increase its defensive capacity, but it must be implemented at a high pace. We must be so strong that no one dare attack us," Safrastyan said. Safrastyan added that this issue is becoming especially relevant in the light of the permanent strengthening of the military potential in Azerbaijan’s exclave Nakhichevan, which historically is an Armenian territory, but today it is an exclave of Azerbaijan with the status of autonomous republic.
"The constant strengthening of Nakhichevan's military potential is a serious threat for both us and all countries of the region. We must, along with strengthening our military potential, work through diplomatic channels to convince our partners and neighbors that militarization of Nakhichevan is fraught with aggravation of the military situation not only around Karabakh, but throughout the entire South Caucasus, "Safrastyan said.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict erupted into armed clashes after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s as the predominantly Armenian-populated enclave of Azerbaijan sought to secede from Azerbaijan and declared its independence backed by a successful referendum. On May 12, 1994, the Bishkek cease-fire agreement put an end to the military operations.
A truce was brokered by Russia in 1994, although no permanent peace agreement has been signed. Since then, Nagorno-Karabakh and several adjacent regions have been under the control of Armenian forces of Karabakh.
Nagorno-Karabakh is the longest-running post-Soviet era conflict and has continued to simmer despite the relative peace of the past two decades, with snipers causing tens of deaths a year. On April 2, 2016, Azerbaijan launched military assaults along the entire perimeter of its contact line with Nagorno-Karabakh. Four days later a cease-fire was reached. ---0---
