YEREVAN, Armenia –
Ethnic Armenians had been streaming out of Nagorno-Karabakh on Monday after the Azerbaijani army reclaimed full management of the breakaway area, whereas Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Azerbaijan in a present of help to its ally.
The Azerbaijani army routed Armenian forces in a 24-hour blitz final week, forcing the separatist authorities to agree to put down weapons and begin talks on Nagorno-Karabakh’s “reintegration” into Azerbaijan after three a long time of separatist rule.
A second spherical of talks between Azerbaijani officers and separatist representatives happened within the city of Khojaly, simply north of the Nagorno-Karabakh capital, on Monday. Talks additionally had been held final week. Azerbaijan’s presidential workplace stated in an announcement that the talks had been held “in a constructive environment” and that the dialogue targeted on humanitarian help to the area and medical companies.
Whereas Azerbaijan has pledged to respect the rights of ethnic Armenians within the area and restore provides after a 10-month blockade, many native residents feared reprisals and stated they had been planning to depart for Armenia.
The Armenian authorities stated that 6,500 Nagorno-Karabakh residents had fled to Armenia as of Monday night. Moscow stated that Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh had been aiding the evacuation.
A number of dozen individuals had been injured on Monday evening at a gasoline station simply outdoors of the breakaway area’s capital, Stepanakert, the place a gas tank exploded. Dozens of individuals had been lining up on the gasoline station on the time to gas their vehicles with a purpose to transfer to Armenia.
It wasn’t instantly clear if there have been any deaths. Armenian Well being Ministry spokeswoman Angelina Isakhanyan didn’t have precise figures however advised The Related Press that there have been “a number of dozens of wounded, with burns of various (levels).”
Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry stated Monday that two of its troopers had been killed a day earlier when a army truck hit a land mine. It did not identify the realm the place the explosion occurred.
In an deal with to the nation Sunday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated his authorities was working with worldwide companions to guard the rights and safety of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.
“If these efforts don’t produce concrete outcomes, the federal government will welcome our sisters and brothers from Nagorno-Karabakh within the Republic of Armenia with each care,” he stated.
Demonstrators demanding Pashinyan’s resignation over what they name his failure to guard Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh continued blocking the Armenian capital’s major avenues Monday, clashing sometimes with police.
Russian peacekeepers have been within the area since 2020 when a Russian-brokered armistice ended a six-week battle between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Pashinyan and plenty of others in Armenia accused the peacekeepers of failing to forestall the hostilities and shield the Armenian inhabitants. Moscow rejected the accusations, arguing that its forces had no authorized grounds to intervene, notably after Pashinyan’s recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan.
“We’re categorically in opposition to makes an attempt to place the blame on the Russian aspect, particularly the Russian peacekeepers, who’ve proven true heroism,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated in a convention name with reporters.
He demurred when requested whether or not the Russian peacekeepers would stay within the area, saying that “nobody can actually say something for now.”
The motorcade with the primary group of about 30 individuals from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia is parked at a checkpoint close to Kornidzor village in Syunik area, Armenia, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. (AP Photograph/Vasily Krestyaninov)
Nagorno-Karabakh got here below the management of ethnic Armenian forces, backed by the Armenian army, in separatist combating that led to 1994. Through the battle in 2020, Azerbaijan took again elements of Nagorno-Karabakh together with surrounding territory that Armenian forces had claimed in the course of the earlier battle.
In December, Azerbaijan imposed a blockade of the one street connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, alleging that the Armenian authorities was utilizing the street for mineral extraction and illicit weapons shipments to the area’s separatist forces.
Armenia charged that the closure denied fundamental meals and gas provides to Nagorno-Karabakh’s roughly 120,000 individuals. Azerbaijan rejected the accusation, arguing the area might obtain provides via the Azerbaijani metropolis of Aghdam — an answer lengthy resisted by Nagorno-Karabakh authorities, who known as it a technique for Azerbaijan to achieve management of the area.
On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged help for Armenia and Armenians, saying that France will mobilize meals and medical help for the inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh, and maintain working towards a `’sustainable peace” within the area.
France, which has a giant Armenian diaspora, has for many years performed a mediating position in Nagorno-Karabakh. A number of hundred individuals rallied outdoors the French Overseas Ministry over the weekend, demanding sanctions in opposition to Azerbaijan and accusing Paris of not doing sufficient to guard Armenian pursuits within the area.
“France could be very vigilant about Armenia’s territorial integrity as a result of that’s what is at stake,” Macron stated in an interview with France-2 and TF1 tv, accusing Russia of complicity with Azerbaijan and charging that Turkey threatens Armenia’s borders.
Russia has been the primary ally and sponsor of Armenia and has a army base there, but it surely additionally has sought to keep up pleasant ties with Azerbaijan. However Moscow’s clout within the area has waned rapidly amid the Russian battle in Ukraine whereas the affect of Azerbaijan’s prime ally Turkey has elevated.
Erdogan arrived in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave on Monday for talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to debate Turkey-Azerbaijan ties and regional and international points. Nakhchivan is minimize off from the remainder of Azerbaijan by Armenian territory however types a slim border with Turkey.
Erdogan and Aliyev signed a deal for a gasoline pipeline and the Turkish chief stated “I am very happy to be with all of you as we join Nakhchivan with the Turkish world.”
Requested about Erdogan’s go to, Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, voiced hope that it’ll “contribute to the regional safety and assist normalize life in Karabakh.”
Aliyev, at a information convention with Erdogan, stated “It’s crystal clear that, unbiased of their ethnicity, the individuals dwelling within the Karabakh area are Azerbaijani individuals so their security and safety is ensured by the Azerbaijani state.”
In the meantime, the pinnacle of the U.S. Company for Worldwide Growth, Samantha Energy, visited Armenia Monday to “affirm U.S. help for Armenia’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and democracy and to assist deal with humanitarian wants stemming from the current violence in Nagorno-Karabakh,” her workplace stated in an announcement. She was joined by U.S. Division of State Appearing Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasian Affairs Yuri Kim.
“The USA is deeply involved about stories on the humanitarian situations in Nagorno-Karabakh and requires unimpeded entry for worldwide humanitarian organizations and industrial site visitors,” USAID stated.
On the United Nations, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric advised reporters that the world group is anxious concerning the inflow of individuals into Armenia. “If we’re, because the UN, given entry, we stand able to conduct humanitarian wants evaluation and supply help to affected individuals,” he stated. Requested whether or not the UN was keen to take any additional motion, he stated its “focus proper now could be on potential humanitarian help.”
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Related Press writers Aida Sultanova in London, Andrew Wilks in Istanbul, Jennifer Peltz in New York, and Angela Charlton in Paris contributed to this report.
