Russian ambassador says hostilities in Karabakh must be stopped

YEREVAN, October 12. /ARKA/. Hostilities in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) must be stopped, as there is no military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin told reporters on Monday.

Asked about a possible recognition of Artskah and Russia's position on it, Kopyrkin said Moscow's position is that the hostilities must be stopped so that people do not die. He added that the sides to the conflict must return to the negotiating table for substantive talks under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

"Our position has already been expressed officially more than once. The logic of our actions proceeds precisely from the fact that it is necessary to stop hostilities. There is no and there should be no military solution to this conflict, and it is necessary to sit down at the negotiating table and conduct substantive negotiations," he said.

When asked about the necessary actions in conditions of non-compliance with the ceasefire, Kopyrkin replied that it is necessary to ensure that it is observed  as the parties agreed in Moscow.

"The Russian side is doing everything necessary to ensure that the ceasefire really works," he said. In particular, he said, very active efforts are being made by Russian diplomacy and personally by Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the clashes.

The ambassador also noted that the issue of peacekeepers was not discussed at the meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

On September 27th the Azerbaijani military launched a large-scale offensive against the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) using missiles, artillery and suicide drones against civilian populations in Artsakh’s capital Stepanakert as well as other civilian populations in and around Artsakh, as well as against certain areas of the Republic of Armenia’s town of Vardenis, causing death and injury to dozens of civilians.

According to official Armenian sources, some 4,919 Azerbaijani soldiers have been killed in the heavy fighting since September 27 and more than 5,000 have been wounded. Armenian troops have destroyed 512 tanks and armored vehicles, 4 MLRS Smerch and Uragan, 4 MLRS TOS-1A, 145 UAVs, 16 helicopters and 17 aircraft. 

According to the defense ministries of Armenia and Artsakh, more than 430 Armenian servicemen have been killed and several hundred have been wounded. As a result of war crimes committed by Azerbaijan, 25 civilians have been killed and over 100 wounded.  

Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to a Russia-brokered cease-fire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting at 12 pm October 10 after 10 hours of talks in Moscow sponsored by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. 

The parties reaffirmed their commitment to the humanitarian ceasefire for the exchange of prisoners of war and the bodies of those killed through the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement October 10 evening that violating its own commitment, Azerbaijan continued military operations in various sectors of the frontline, firing also at settlements of the Syunik region of Armenia. -0-