Armenian, French presidents stress importance of compliance with cease-fire arrangements in Karabakh conflict zone

YEREVAN, October 23. /ARKA/. A meeting of the President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian and President of France Emmanuel Macron took place Friday at the Élysée Palace, the press service of the Armenian president reports. The situation in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone was discussed at the meeting.

According to the presidential press service, President Sarkissian expressed gratitude to President Macron and noted that Armenia highly values efforts of France, as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, and personal position of President Macron in the resolution of the conflict.

President Sarkissian underscored that the large-scale military aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan with the support of Turkey against Artsakh/Nagorno Karabakh continues, settlements, civilian population and civilian infrastructure of Artsakh are being targeted which causes deaths and injuries among civilians. The President of Armenia expressed deep concern with Turkey’s military and political assistance to Azerbaijan and underlined that Turkey’s, as the third party’s involvement of such magnitude makes the situation worse, endangering stability and security of the region. President Sarkissian said that Islamic terrorists brought by Turkey to Azerbaijan and enlisted in the armed forces of that country to be used in the military actions against Artsakh, pose a particular threat for the region. There is also a possibility that some time later they might appear in other countries, including in Europe.
President Macron also expressed concern with the ongoing military actions and ensuing situation.
Presidents Sarkissian and Macron concurred that there is no alternative to a peaceful resolution and stressed the importance of implementing agreements on ceasefire.

The presidents underlined the role of the OSCE Minsk Group in the resolution of the conflict and stressed the importance of getting back to the negotiations under the co-chairmanship of the Minsk Group.

The presidents of Armenia and France also stated with satisfaction that privileged Armenian-French relations, based on the centuries-long ties and friendship of the two nations, continue to develop in the spirit of friendship and mutual understanding.

President Armen Sarkissian arrived to Paris from Brussels where he met with the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, and President of the European Council Charles Michel.

War in Artsakh

On September 27, at 07:10, Azerbaijani troops launched an offensive along the entire length of the contact line in Artsakh, but were thrown back in several directions. Intense fighting continues in the south, southeast and north of the front line. Turkey joined the aggression. Residential areas are being shelled as well. 
Azerbaijan is supported by the Turkish Armed Forces and foreign mercenary terrorists recruited by it. The Turkish-Azerbaijani aggression encounters a decisive rebuff from the Armenian Armed Forces along the entire frontline.

The Azerbaijani side suffered losses in manpower (more than 6,459  people killed and thousands wounded) and equipment, in particular, 202 UAVs, 4 units of TOS – 1A, 4 Smerch and Uragan MLRS, more than 580  tanks and other armored vehicles, 16 helicopters and 23 aircraft. According to the data of the defense ministry of Armenia and Artsakh, more than 825 Armenian servicemen were killed and hundreds wounded on the Armenian side. Also 37 civilians were killed and more than 116 wounded on the Armenian side. 

On October 9, following the meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Jeyhun Bayramov, with the mediation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, an agreement was reached on a ceasefire from 12:00 on October 10 for humanitarian purposes for the exchange of prisoners of war and the bodies of the dead. Armenia and Azerbaijan, with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, on the basis of the basic principles of the settlement, are starting substantive negotiations with the aim of achieving a peaceful settlement as soon as possible. Two times humanitarian ceasefire agreements were reached, but Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire by opening fire at the opposite side and carrying out rocket attacks on residential areas.  

Martial law and general mobilization were declared in Artsakh and Armenia. -0--