Nagorno-Karabakh conflict threat to regional stability?

An Azerbaijani MiG-25 shot down by Armenian defenses, as population displaced due to ongoing conflict in the region, according to reports.

According to reports of Baaghi TV, Armenian defense forces have reportedly used Shilka to shoot down an MiG-25 of Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, Russian President, Vladimir Putin has urged an end to the territorial dispute. Putin reportedly seeks a ceasefire “as quickly as possible”.

Ceasefire efforts fail between Armenia and Azerbaijan

According to reports, former Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, is set to visit Geneva to meet with leaders of the Organization jointly chaired by diplomats from Russia, France and the United States.

It is to be noted that the former Soviet Union territories are reportedly engaged in conflict with each other since the fall of the Soviet Union, with Azerbaijan staking its legal claim over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, however, Armenian separatist forces are attempting to take over, leading to the deadly escalation in the region. Meanwhile, The Guardian reports that amidst wait for mediators to meet in Geneva, approximately 75,000 people have been forced to flee the region as Azerbaijan and Armenia clash over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory.

As reported earlier by Baaghi TV, Azerbaijan claims that Armenian forces are responsible for shelling civilians in urban areas including the second-largest city of Ganja. Defense Minister for Azerbaijan, Zakir Hasanov, had issued the following statement to the Associated Press following the blasts in Ganja, “Opening fire on the territory of Azerbaijan from the territory of Armenia is clearly provocative and expands the zone of hostilities”.

Azerbaijan-Armenia: Armenian Leader seeks US intervention

Hikmet Hajiyev who is serving as an aid to the President of Azerbaijan, had termed the rising escalation and hostilities a “threat to regional peace and security” on the occasion. Taking to social networking website, Twitter, he wrote, “Azerbaijan retains its right to take adequate measures against legitimate military targets to defend civilians”.

It is to be noted that dozens of citizens have been declared dead since the recent escalation between the states, Azerbaijan and Armenia, with the latter confirming over 300 military deaths. So far, Azerbaijan has not confirmed the number of military fatalities. Moreover, prosecutors in Azerbaijan have confirmed that nearly 1,200 residential buildings have been destroyed.

It is pertinent to note that the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh attempted separation from Azerbaijan in a war in the 1990s which led to Armenian forces declaring independence. At the time, almost 30,000 people had been confirmed dead by the authorities. In addition to this, post-war statistics show that the region is mostly populated by Armenian nationalists rather than Azerbaijanis who reportedly left following the war in the 1990s.

Azerbaijan-Armenia: Armenian Leader seeks US intervention

However, as reported by The Guardian, the international community considers Nagorno-Karabakh a part of Azerbaijan and no state accepts its independence, including Armenia. Moreover, Turkey’s involvement has reportedly changed the landscape since the recent conflict. Turkey reportedly sent its pro-Ankara Syrian fighters as support for Azerbaijan’s forces. “The new aspect is that there is military involvement by Turkey which risks fueling the internationalisation of the conflict,” French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian said.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, has said that the international community should support Azerbaijan because they are on the right side while Armenia are the “occupier”.

Turkish foreign minister to visit Azerbaijan on Tuesday: Ministry