As reported by the press service of the President of Nagorno-Karabakh, thanks to the mediation of the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, an agreement was reached “on the complete cessation of hostilities from 13:00 (12:00). 00 Moscow time) on September 20.” , 2023. Photo: Press service of the Russian Ministry of Defense/TASS
There will be no third war in Karabakh. Stepanakert accepted Azerbaijan’s conditions and unilaterally ended hostilities. What you need to know about the end of the Karabakh conflict.
AS WAS?
As reported by the press service of the President of Nagorno-Karabakh, thanks to the mediation of the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, an agreement was reached “on the complete cessation of hostilities from 13:00 (12:00). 00 Moscow time) on September 20.” , 2023.
Under the terms of these agreements:
– the remaining Armenian units are withdrawn from the deployment zone of the Russian peacekeeping contingent,
– formations of the “Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army” will be disbanded and completely disarmed
– Heavy equipment and weapons are being withdrawn from the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh (they will be removed as soon as possible).
The same agreements have already been confirmed by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.
WHAT DO THEY SAY?
When Azerbaijan began its operation, accusations rained down on Russia, saying that peacekeepers should enter the battle and stop the Azerbaijani army. But these statements were answered in the Kremlin:
– Minister Pashinyan announced the recognition of Azerbaijan’s borders in 1991. This means that Armenia recognized Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. We do not accept reproaches against ourselves. Especially after Armenia’s decision. De jure, we are now talking about the actions of the Azerbaijani side on its territory. Such accusations against us are baseless and based on nothing,” said Dmitri Peskov.
In fact, Nikol Pashinyan spoke about the fact that Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan in Prague in October 2022. Then, negotiations between Pashinyan and Aliyev took place in the capital of the Czech Republic, after which Yerevan and Baku confirmed the mutual recognition of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of each other. This happened in front of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the president of the European Council, Charles Michel. Furthermore, in May 2023, Pashinyan confirmed the same in Moscow at a meeting with Putin and Aliyev: Armenia is ready to recognize 86.6 thousand square kilometers of Azerbaijani territory (this includes Karabakh).
WHAT PEACEKEEPING?
Their main task is to monitor the truce. This was stipulated in the tripartite agreement after the second Karabakh war. In fact, this is what they were worried about, even though they were essentially no longer operating in the disputed territory, but in the territory of Azerbaijan.
In addition, judging by numerous videos, during the Azerbaijani operation it was in the place where the Russian peacekeepers were located that local residents took refuge: in total more than 4 thousand people, of which about a thousand were children. Additionally, our soldiers helped in the evacuation.
WHATS NEXT?
Next will be reintegration. This was already reported by the press service of the President of Nagorno-Karabakh. According to them, the Azerbaijani side has already raised questions about ensuring the rights and security of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians, as well as about the territory’s entry into the legal sphere of Azerbaijan. These issues will begin to be discussed at a meeting between representatives of the Karabakh Armenian population and representatives of the central authorities of Azerbaijan. The first such meeting will take place on Thursday in the city of Yevlakh.
