Turkey, Russia, France and others have reacted to major outbreaks of violence in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have placed themselves on the brink of war after heavy clashes erupted over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Amid rising tensions, the international community has reacted to the fighting between the two arches on Sunday.
This story will be updated as more reactions come.
Iran
Iran has called for an immediate end to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan following the conflict between the two countries, a foreign ministry spokesman said on state TV, announcing Tehran’s readiness to help establish a ceasefire.
“Iran is watching the conflict with concern and calls for an immediate end to the conflict and for dialogue between the two countries,” Khatibzadeh said.
“Tehran is ready to use all its capabilities to help start a dialogue between the two sides.”
Turkey
Azerbaijan’s ally Turkey blamed Armenia for the riots and promised Azerbaijan its “full support”.
“While I urge the Armenian people to hold their own destiny against those who use them as puppets and their fate as their own, we call on the whole world to stand with Azerbaijan in the fight against aggression and cruelty.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter that Turkey would continue to “unite more and more” with Baku.
Earlier, his spokesman Ibrahim Kalin accused Armenia of violating the ceasefire with Azerbaijan by “attacking civilian sites”.
We condemn Armenia’s attack on Azerbaijan. Armenia has once again violated international law and shown that it has no interest in peace and stability.
Turkey stands in full unity with Azerbaijan and unconditionally supports its right to self-defense.
– Ibrahim Kalin (@ Ikalin 1) September 27, 2020
Meanwhile, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Aker said the latest feud could “throw”[ing] While Ankara promises to support Baku, the region will catch fire.
“The biggest obstacle to peace and stability in the Caucasus is Armenia’s hostile attitude, and it must immediately withdraw from this hostility that will set the region on fire.”
He added, “We will support the brothers of Azerbaijan with all means to fight for the protection of their territorial integrity.”
France
France, co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, which mediates between Armenia and Azerbaijan to find a peaceful solution to the decades-old Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, called on Yerevan and Baku to end hostilities and resume immediate dialogue.
“France is extremely concerned about the confrontation,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Agnes von der Muhl said in a statement.
Along with the United States and Russia, France is the co-chair of the Minsk Group.
Russia
Russia, co-chair of the allied Minsk Group, also called for an immediate ceasefire.
“We have asked the parties to immediately start negotiations to stop the fire and stabilize the situation,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
European Union
Charles Mitchell, President of the European Council, called for an end to the fighting and for “immediate return to negotiations.”
“Immediate return to negotiations without preconditions,” Mitchell tweeted, adding that “combat action should be stopped as a matter of urgency, to prevent further action.”
Reports of enemies from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone are of the most serious concern.
Military action must be stopped as a matter of urgency to stop the advance.
The only way out is to return to negotiations immediately without preconditions.
– Charles Mitchell (@Eukopresident) September 27, 2020
Germany
Germany also called for an immediate end to the fighting, urging it to return to dialogue to resolve the dispute.
In a statement, Foreign Minister Heiko Masse said in a statement that “there is a need for an immediate end to the hostilities between the two sides.
“The conflict on the Nagorno-Karabakh region can only be resolved through negotiations,” added the German foreign minister, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.
Vatican
Pope Francis said he was praying for peace in the Caucasus region.
“I pray for peace in the Caucasus and I call on the parties to the conflict to work for harmony and brotherhood that can resolve problems through dialogue and negotiation, not through the use of force and weapons,” said the Roman Catholic Church.
