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Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov attended a reception organized by US President Joe Biden within the framework of the high-level week of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan informed on its page in X that within the framework of the reception, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister met with US President Joe Biden.
A senior UN official told the Security Council on Thursday that the wellbeing of civilians caught up in the long-running conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan should be the “overriding priority” following renewed fighting.
Miroslav Jenča told ambassadors that Azerbaijan had announced, in their words, “local counter-terrorism activities in the Karabakh economic region” two days ago, in response to the tragic deaths of two civilians and four police officers in incidents that allegedly involved landmines placed by the Armenian military.
He noted that Azerbaijan had notified the Russian peacekeeping force in the region, of its activities in a bid to “prevent large scale provocations” by Armenian troops and “ensure their withdrawal and the restoration of the constitutional order” within internationally recognized Azerbaijani territory.
Mr. Jenča lamented that following a “serious escalation in military operations” across the Line of Contact between the two forces, civilian casualties had been reported, as well as thousands evacuated within the flashpoint region.
He stressed that the UN has no observers in the region and was unable to verify the “various claims and allegations.”
The UN has supported the full implementation of a 9 November 2020 Trilateral Statement by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, following the ceasefire of that year, together with efforts to reduce tensions and advance the normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan.
Mr. Jenča told the Council that in light of the 2020 Statement, Secretary-General António Guterres urges all concerned to “strictly observe” the ceasefire and continue to abide by their obligations relating to international humanitarian and human rights law.
He reminded ambassadors that in recent months the freedom of movement of local civilians and humanitarian access along the Lachin Corridor and Aghdam road, “have been major sources of tension and sharp exchanges”.
“The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned about the impact of the escalation on the fragile humanitarian situation and calls on the parties to urgently facilitate unimpeded access” of relief to all civilians, Mr. Jenča added.
He said the uptick in violence in recent days should be viewed within a “broader pattern of ceasefire violations which have continued to persist.”
Assistant Secretary-General Jenča noted Wednesday’s announcement of a cessation of hostilities, cautioning that the situation on the ground remains fluid.
“We also understand that, in a positive step, representatives of the local population and the Government of Azerbaijan met earlier today for an initial exchange.”
He called for a “credible and durable” end to the fighting. “Any renewed escalation would lead to further loss of life and human suffering and further set back internationally supported peace efforts.”
Protection of civilians including their basic human rights “must be the overriding priority.”
The only sustainable way forward, he said, was through genuine dialogue between Azerbaijan and representatives of the region, “together with full engagement in the normalization process.”
In UK House of Lords Lord David Alton raised the plight of Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh and called for deployment of international peacekeepers.
“In the UK House of Lords I asked about reports from Stepanakert, the capital Nagorno-Karabakh, this morning that street fighting is still going on despite the ceasefire announced yesterday. Are we going to verify this question and press the UN Security Council for international peacekeepers,” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“I raised the plight of Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh – which I have visited- and called for U.K. observers to be sent to report on the situation firsthand and for the UN Security Council to provide a mandate for an international peacekeeping force,” Lord Alton added.
I raised the plight of #Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh – which I have visited- and called for U.K. observers to be sent to report on the situation firsthand and for the @UN Security Council to provide a mandate for an international peacekeeping force. pic.twitter.com/o5ACcjwumz
— Lord (David) Alton (@DavidAltonHL) September 21, 2023
The Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Azerbaijan decided to send food cargo to meet the needs of the Armenian residents of the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting Turan.
On September 22, two 20-ton trucks with various food products and hygiene products and two trucks with bread were sent from the Aghdam region.
The goods will be delivered along the Aghdam-Khankendi road, which is already in operation, and distributed among the population.
The delivery of such humanitarian food supplies will continue.
On Tuesday, Azerbaijan decided to provide fuel and humanitarian aid to Armenians living in Karabakh.
The post Azerbaijan sends food supplies to Armenian residents of Karabakh appeared first on Azerbaijan In Focus.
Hungary has exercised its veto to prevent the EU from issuing a collective statement regarding the situation in Karabakh, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting Trend.
According to sources within European diplomatic circles, this veto came in response to what is described as a prejudiced and anti-Azerbaijani statement by Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, regarding counter-terrorism measures in Karabakh. Originally, this statement was intended to be a joint declaration involving all 27 EU member states, but Hungary blocked its adoption.
Azerbaijan launched anti-terrorist measures in Karabakh on September 19 in order to completely expel Armenian illegal armed formations from its territory.
As a result, in less than 24 hours, the Azerbaijani Army managed to take control of more than 90 combat positions of the Armenian armed forces units. At the same time, seven combat vehicles, one tank, four mortars, and two infantry fighting vehicles were captured as trophies by the Armenian Armed Forces units.
Thus, an agreement on the cessation of anti-terrorist activities was reached at 13:00 (GMT+4) on September 20.
The post Hungary vetoed EU’s anti-Azerbaijani statement on Karabakh appeared first on Azerbaijan In Focus.
