Azerbaijan announces suspension of “anti-terrorist” measures in Nagorno-Karabakh
- 20 September, 16:08
Azerbaijan has suspended military operation launched against Armenian military formations in its breakaway Nagorno-Karabkah region. According to the Defence Ministry’s statement published on Wednesday, Baku reached an agreement with separatists in the region.
The ministry stated that the separatist in parts of Nagorno-Karabakh region where Russian-peacekeepers are stationed, have agreed to the terms and conditions put forward by Azerbaijan.
According to the agreement, the units of the Armenian armed forces located in Karabakh and illegal Armenian armed groups will lay down their weapons, withdraw from their combat positions and military posts and be completely disarmed. Under the agreement, all the ammunition and heavy military equipment is handed over. The third paragraph of the agreement stipulates that the abovementioned process is carried out in coordination with the Russian peacekeeping contingent stationed in Karabakh since the end of the war between Armenian and Azerbaijan in 2020.
Azerbaijan on Tuesday announced the start of what it described as “anti-terrorist” measures in the Nagorno-Karabakh region in order “to restore constitutional order” after months of rising tension in the region. In the latest of the hostilities, Azerbaijan claimed that seven of its policemen were killed in a mine blast in Khojavand district in Nagorno-Karabakh. The operation that targeted military formations in the region, lasted only 24 hours and included precision artillery strikes. Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev said on Wednesday that the military operation would continue until separatists in the region laid down their weapons. He stressed that the Azerbaijani army does not target civilians and infrastructure facilities, and only destroys legitimate military targets.
Separatist authorities in the region stated on Wednesday that they will meet with officials from Baku in Azerbaijan’s Yevlakh city on September 21 for negotiations that will include discussion of “issues raised by the Azerbaijani side on reintegration, ensuring the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh”.
