UPDATE ON THE SITUATION – There is no “direct threat” to the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, Nikol Pashinian added, while negotiations are underway to reintegrate the breakaway territory into Azerbaijan.
End of talks between Azerbaijan and Armenian separatists, statements by the Armenian Prime Minister, emergency meeting of the UN Security Council… Le Figaro takes stock of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenia is ready to accept “more than 40,000 families” from Nagorno-Karabakh
Armenia is ready, if necessary, to accept “more than 40,000 families” from Nagorno-Karabakh, where Armenian separatists surrendered on Wednesday after a 24-hour military offensive by Azerbaijan, the Armenian prime minister assured on Thursday, September 22. “We have booked rooms in hotels and prepared places to accommodate them. “We have prepared everything to receive more than 40,000 families from this area populated mainly by Armenians,” Nikol Pashinian said in a televised address.
The ceasefire will be “generally” observed
Nikol Pashinian said the ceasefire that has been in effect since Wednesday will be “generally” observed despite “individual violations.” According to him, there is no “direct threat” to the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.
“This path is not easy, but we have to take it,” says Nikol Pashinian
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Earlier on Thursday, Nikol Pashinian called on his country to “take the path” to peace, even if it is difficult, amid accusations from the opposition of letting Azerbaijan militarily regain control of the separatist region. “We must value peace and not confuse peace, ceasefire and ceasefire. Peace is an environment free of interstate and ethnic conflicts. This path is not easy, but we must take it,” he said in an address to the nation on the occasion of Independence Day.
As the talks began in Yevlakh, shots were heard in Stepanakert, the capital of the Armenian separatists, from a local correspondent, the origin of which was initially unknown. “The Azerbaijani armed forces used various weapons from the area around Stepanakert, thereby violating the ceasefire agreement that came into force on Wednesday,” the secessionists accused.
The allegations were immediately labeled “disinformation” by Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov. At the same time, in Geneva, Armenia called the Azerbaijani military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh a “crime against humanity” and assured the UN Human Rights Council that it was an “ethnic cleansing” that was “in progress.”
First “constructive” conversations
The first talks between Azerbaijan and Armenian separatists from Nagorno-Karabakh ended after about two hours of discussions, Azerbaijani state media said. No press conference was scheduled after these talks, which took place in the Azerbaijani city of Yevlakh, 295 km west of the capital Baku.
Azerbaijan described as “constructive” these initial talks on reintegrating this breakaway territory where its army had just won a lightning victory. A new meeting will take place “as soon as possible,” said the Azerbaijani presidency, which also plans to send humanitarian aid, food and fuel to the region.
For their part, Armenian separatists said they were ready to continue peace talks with Baku. “The parties particularly emphasized the need to discuss all existing issues in a peaceful environment and expressed their readiness to continue the meetings,” it said in a statement.
In the morning, a convoy of black four-wheel-drive vehicles arrived on the scene, followed by a vehicle flying a Russian flag and bearing Russian army license plates. According to images from the official Azerbaijani news agency Azertag, six men in suits then sat around a table. Among them was a representative of Nagorno-Karabakh, David Melkoumian.
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“Hungry and scared” displaced people on the streets of the separatist capital
The streets of Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh, are “full of displaced, hungry and frightened people,” a local official said on Thursday, a day after it surrendered to Azerbaijan after 24 hours of fighting.
“People are desperately looking for each other and calling (…) for news about their loved ones,” added Gegham Stepanyan, head of the separatist Authority for the Defense of Rights, on X, formerly Twitter.
Putin calls for “the rights and security of Armenians” to be guaranteed
During a telephone conversation with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that “the rights and security” of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh – where they make up the majority – be guaranteed by Baku. The Azerbaijanis’ military success is fueling fears of a massive exodus of the 120,000 residents of this enclave.
Armenia has promised not to plan mass evacuations for the time being. “Decisions will be made based on the situation and the results of discussions,” stressed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s office, adding that “the question of evacuation” of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh “who have the right to life is not up to the issue.” to bring language”. in their houses.
Ilham Aliev promised “safe passage” to Armenian separatist forces and ensured that “all actions” would be coordinated “on the ground” with Russian peacekeepers. Twenty-four hours after the start of its military offensive, Azerbaijan has “restored its sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh,” Ilham Aliev welcomed on Wednesday.
More than 10,000 people, including women, children and the elderly, have already been evacuated from Nagorno-Karabakh, a separatist official said on Wednesday evening. Russian peacekeepers, who have been stationed in this disputed region since the end of the last war in autumn 2020, said on Thursday morning that they had looked after around 5,000 of them.
Two Russian soldiers killed
According to the latest assessment by Armenian separatists, the Azerbaijani offensive, which ended within 24 hours on Wednesday afternoon, left at least 200 dead and 400 injured.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced that two Russian soldiers were killed on Wednesday when their car was fired upon. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev apologized to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin after Russian peacekeepers were killed during the Azerbaijani offensive in Karabakh, according to a Kremlin statement. “A thorough investigation of this incident will be carried out and all those responsible will be duly punished,” said Ilham Aliev, according to the Kremlin.
Pashinian is under pressure in Azerbaijan
The separatists’ surrender increased pressure on the Armenian prime minister, who was criticized for not sending aid to Nagorno-Karabakh.
The day after clashes in front of the government headquarters, thousands of demonstrators, supporters of the Nagorno-Karabakh separatists, gathered again on Wednesday evening and there were incidents with the police. Nikol Pashinyan “has to go, he cannot lead the country,” explained one of them, Sarguis Hayats, a twenty-year-old musician.
Support from Turkey
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his “unconditional support” for Baku in a telephone conversation with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliev on Thursday, the Turkish presidency said. “President Erdogan received information from Ilham Aliyev about the current situation of the operation launched by Azerbaijan. “President Erdogan once again expressed to Aliyev Turkey’s full support for Azerbaijan,” the president said in a statement.
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