Statement on "The aggression of Azerbaijan against Artsakh and Armenia with the direct involvement of Turkey and foreign terrorist fighters" as delivered by Ambassador Armen Papikyan at the 1335th meeting of the Permanent Council

16 September, 2021

Madam Chairperson,

We should like to update the Permanent Council on the situation along the line of contact in Artsakh and in the border regions of Armenia, which remains extremely volatile and tense at present – almost a year after Azerbaijan unleashed a war of aggression against Artsakh and its people, with the direct involvement and support of Turkey and Turkish-backed foreign terrorist fighters.

Even though the signing, on 9 November 2020, of a Russian-mediated trilateral statement on a ceasefire stopped the bloodshed and violence, many important issues are still outstanding, including issues regarding which the trilateral statement by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation contains relevant provisions and requirements.

First and foremost, the most pressing issue, namely the release of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian hostages, remains unresolved, as Azerbaijan continues to prevent their return, staging mock trials and handing down lengthy sentences to them – in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, notably the Geneva Conventions of 1949, and paragraph 8 of the trilateral ceasefire statement of 9 November 2020.

The state of health of the Armenian prisoners of war and civilian hostages, the conditions of their detention and how to protect them from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment are all a source of constant concern, particularly given the Azerbaijani authorities’ continued denial of their having captured numerous Armenian military personnel and civilians, which puts these at risk of being subjected to enforced disappearance.

Madam Chairperson,

The Armenian delegation has constantly pointed to the flagrant violations of the provisions of the trilateral statement by Azerbaijan, most recently during the OSCE’s Annual Security Review Conference (ASRC). Unfortunately, the situation shows no signs of improving and we continue to operate in an extremely fragile and hostile environment.

The situation is further exacerbated by Azerbaijan’s continuous provocations from all points of the compass and in all possible ways. After an incursion into the sovereign territory of Armenia on 12 May this year, Azerbaijan carried out a series of attacks on Armenian positions, as a result of which Armenian military personnel were killed and wounded. Units of the Azerbaijani armed forces periodically open fire in the direction of Armenian border towns and villages and even stoop to rustling cattle, thereby causing considerable damage to the property of local residents. Ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan also occur along the line of contact in Artsakh almost every day.

Another serious source of concern is the repeated arson attacks by the Azerbaijani armed forces on pastures and hayfields in the border regions of Armenia. On 29 August and 4 September 2021, the Azerbaijani military deliberately set fire to pastures and hayfields near the Armenian villages of Sotk and Kut in the Gegharkunik province; the fire spread quickly owing to the dry and windy weather. More than 300 hectares of pasture and 150 hectares of grassland were burned in four villages as a result of fires set by Azerbaijani soldiers. All this has seriously affected the livelihoods of local Armenian farmers.

Armenia possesses irrefutable evidence of these attacks, including video footage showing Azerbaijani soldiers setting grass fields ablaze using Molotov cocktails and burning tyres. Considering the usually dry and windy weather at this time of the year, these deliberate acts of arson and sabotage, accompanied by continuous violations of the ceasefire and other intimidation tactics, are clearly aimed at creating unbearable conditions for people living in the border villages and forcing them to leave their homes. We believe that such incidents should be the subject of close attention and scrutiny by the relevant OSCE structures.

Madam Chairperson,

Armenia has repeatedly expressed its readiness to start the process of delimitation and demarcation of borders. However, Azerbaijan’s aggressive posturing and provocative actions, which merely serve to create obstacles to resumption of the Nagorno‑Karabakh peace talks, testify to that country’s deliberate policy of undermining the aforementioned process. The refusal by Azerbaijan to pull back its armed forces from the borderline in a “mirrored” fashion, as suggested by the Prime Minister of Armenia, is yet another sign of that policy.

At the ASRC, during Working session I, the Armenian delegation spoke about Azerbaijan’s destructive behaviour, including such actions as blocking the motorway connecting the Armenian cities of Goris and Kapan and the Kapan-Vorotan intercommunal road, thereby grossly violating the right to freedom of movement of the civilian population of that area. Such actions also contravene the logic, the letter and the spirit of the trilateral statement of 9 November 2020.

On 9 September 2021, Azerbaijan installed a so-called police checkpoint on the motorway connecting the two aforementioned cities, specifically near the village of Vorotan, in the non‑demarcated area of the State border. This step – accompanied by other illegal actions, such as checking the documents of drivers and inspecting their cargo, introducing illegal transit taxes, fines and other coercive measures – is bound to hinder trade between Armenia and Iran.

Just a few days ago, in an attempt to further restrict travel and use of the Goris-Kapan motorway, the Azerbaijani forces detained two Iranian lorry drivers. The intention is clearly to intimidate all other drivers. Given that there has been no demarcation or delimitation of borders, such actions by Azerbaijan are completely illegal. Moreover, its refusal to engage in good faith in the process of demarcation and delimitation of borders clearly indicates that Azerbaijan is seeking to further escalate the situation. Azerbaijan’s actions on the ground belie its professed intention and desire to help build peace and trust and promote reconciliation in the region.

This assessment of the true intentions of Azerbaijan is further corroborated by the recent Turkish-Azerbaijani joint military exercise in the area of the Lachin corridor – another glaring example of actions aimed at disrupting the de-escalation agenda and undermining the trilateral statement signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation.

Madam Chairperson,

By constantly increasing the level of tension – among other means, through military provocations in Artsakh and along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border – Azerbaijan seeks to postpone indefinitely the resumption of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process and, ultimately, the peaceful and comprehensive settlement of the conflict. We reiterate that only the resumption of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, under the auspices of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, can create the necessary conditions to achieve lasting peace in the region.

Armenia stands ready to engage in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process in good faith and will continue to act consistently in support of the realization of the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination, regardless of Azerbaijan’s efforts to remove this issue from the international agenda by all means, not least by denying the very existence of Artsakh and its people. The international community must condemn such an approach in the strongest possible terms.

Madam Chairperson,

The current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is the result of a flagrant violation by Azerbaijan of several core principles of the Helsinki Final Act, namely refraining from the threat or use of force; peaceful settlement of disputes; equal rights and self-determination of peoples; and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. No one should be under any illusion that the results of the use of force, accompanied by war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law, can ever become the basis for a lasting and sustainable peace. Such a peace can only be achieved in the region through a comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which must include determining the status of Artsakh on the basis of the realization by the people of Artsakh of their inalienable right to self‑determination; ensuring the safe and dignified return of recently displaced population to their homes; and preserving the cultural and religious heritage of the region.

Madam Chairperson,

I kindly ask you to attach this statement to the journal of today’s meeting.

MFA RA
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