On September 27, the latest tensions between the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides over the occupied Karabakh area began. Since the USSR dissolved in 1991, the two countries went to war over the region, causing an estimated 30,000 deaths.
As the bloody battle over the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh territory has reached a second week, Azerbaijan’s foreign minister will address international representatives over the country’s dispute with Armenia.
According to the Foreign Ministry, a “working visit to Geneva” on Thursday will see Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov meet the representatives of the Minsk OSCE party.
Russia urges a ceasefire
In the meantime, Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for an end to the conflict in the Armenian-occupied territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, saying that the Moscow-led Yerevan security agreement would not extend to areas outside Armenia.
In his Wednesday statement, declaring the war a disaster, Putin emphasized that Moscow must meet its commitments under the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), which observers often refer to as Russian NATO.
But pointedly, he said, “The hostilities that continue to this day, to our great disappointment, are not taking place on the territories of Armenia.”
As other problems grow, such as the demonstrations in neighboring Belarus, the poisoning of opposition figure Alexey Navalny, and now turmoil in Kyrgyzstan, Russia so far has kept its isolation from the fight.
It has friendly ties with both sides, however, it also has a military base in Armenia, and Yerevan, though Baku is not, is a part of a Russia-led regional security group.
Armenian PM Pashinyan told AFP he was certain that Russia would come to its assistance because of the CSTO participation of the two nations.
Russia to seek negotiation
Putin will resume his discussion regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev after the two leaders communicated briefly by phone on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
On a phone interview, Peskov told journalists that Aliyev had called Putin to congratulate him on his 68th birthday and that the two men had taken the opportunity to address the dispute.
The further escalaltion of the crisis resulted in a battle between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which started on September 27.
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline Armenian Attack
read more: Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenia is accused of a missile attack by Azerbaijan
As the tension across the occupied Karabakh area continues to intensify, Azerbaijan previously said that it prevented an Armenian missile assault on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline.
On Wednesday, Azerbaijani authorities said Armenian troops tried an assault on a pipeline in Yevlah on Tuesday at about 0500 GMT.
The BTC pipeline supplies light crude oil, primarily from the fields of Azerbaijani-Chirag-Guneshli, via Georgia, to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan in Turkey for tanker export.
Azerbaijan characterized the incident as a “terrorism act” and stressed the vital function of the pipeline in the energy security of Europe.
Turkey calls for immediate talks with the European Union
Turkey insisted on the world to support Azerbaijan in the dispute over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh on Tuesday.
On a tour to Azerbaijan, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu made the remarks, after Russia, the United States and France on Monday requested for a ‘unconditional’ halt to the war.
“The Turkish foreign minister added,” Putting these two nations on equal level implies protecting the occupier. “The globe must be on the side of those who are right, on the side of Azerbaijan in particular.”
“Cavusoglu rejected foreign demands for an urgent ceasefire, stating,” For almost three decades, they have been issuing the very same demand.
Find more: What is happening in Artsakh
