PACE calls on Azerbaijan and Armenia to fulfill the November 9 statement on ending war in Nagorno-Karabakh
YEREVAN, January 26. /ARKA/. Azerbaijan and Armenia should refrain from rhetoric that hinders political dialogue and implement the provisions of the trilateral agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh as soon as possible, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said in a report that reviews progress of Council of Europe states under monitoring in 2020.
The PACE noted the role of Russia in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and called on Yerevan and Baku to fulfill the provisions of the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, concerning humanitarian issues as soon as possible.
The PACE also recommended that the exchange of prisoners of war, respect for the cultural heritage, and refraining from rhetoric that interferes with political dialogue be started immediately.
The PACE expressed also serious concern about reports of violations of humanitarian law and human rights during the conflict in Karabakh, as well as about information about the damage caused to religious sites, monuments and private property.
PACE expects that these cases will be fully investigated and any violations must be eliminated and the perpetrators brought to justice, the resolution says.
On September 27, 2020, Azerbaijani armed forces, backed by Turkey and foreign mercenaries and terrorists, attacked Nagorno-Karabakh along the entire front line using rocket and artillery weapons, heavy armored vehicles, military aircraft and prohibited types of weapons such as cluster bombs and phosphorus weapons.
After 44 days of the war, on November 9, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a statement on the cessation of all hostilities. According to the document, the parties stopped at where they were at that time. The town of Shushi, the districts of Agdam, Kelbajar and Lachin were handed over to Azerbaijan, with the exception of a 5-kilometer corridor connecting Karabakh with Armenia.
A Russian peacekeeping contingent was deployed along the contact line in Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor. Internally displaced persons and refugees are returning to Karabakh and adjacent regions, prisoners of war, hostages and other detained persons and bodies of the dead are being exchanged. -0-
