Turkey urges Armenia to observe ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh
ANKARA: Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy condemned the violation of the ceasefire in unrecognised Nagorno-Karabakh and called on Armenia to observe it, reported Sputnik news agency.
On Monday evening, the Russian Defence Ministry reported that the Centre for Reconciliation of the Sides in Karabakh was checking information on the possible shooting in the area of the Tug settlement of the Hadrut region. Earlier, the reports of the Azerbaijani media about an alleged incident near Tug were also commented on by the Armenian Defence Ministry, which said the village was under Azerbaijani control and no clashes with Karabakh units had been recorded.
“Attacks in Nagorno-Karabakh against the Azerbaijani Armed Forces by members of Armenian groups who refused to lay down their arms and retreat are a clear violation of the ceasefire regime established by the trilateral agreement of November 9. As a result of attacks by Armenian armed groups on November 26, December 8, 11 and 27, there were those killed and wounded among the Azerbaijani military and civilians,” Aksoy said in a statement.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the main responsibility for the withdrawal of Armenian armed groups and compliance with ceasefire rested with Armenia, which had signed the trilateral agreement. The Azerbaijani side, it said, responded properly, using its right to self-defence.
At the end of September, hostilities resumed in Nagorno-Karabakh, which became a continuation of the long-term conflict and led to casualties among the civilian population. The sides made several attempts to sign a truce, but only the tripartite agreement reached overnight to November 10 turned out to be successful.
With the mediation of Moscow, Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to completely cease fire, and exchange prisoners and bodies of the dead. Yerevan also transferred the Kalbajar, Lachin and Agdam districts to Baku. Russian peacekeepers were stationed in the region.
–BERNAMA
