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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday called for an end to the Armenian “occupation” in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, to end fighting between Armenian-backed separatists and Azerbaijani forces, Agerpres reports. Fierce fighting rages between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, where each side demands control.
“The time has come for this crisis, which began with the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh, to end. As soon as Armenia leaves its territory, the region will find peace and harmony,” said President Erdogan. Turkey is the main defender of the conflict in Azerbaijan.
A total of 27 separatist soldiers from the Caucasus region of Nagorno-Karabakh were killed on Monday in clashes with Azerbaijan, the province’s Defense Ministry said after announcing a death toll of 28 soldiers.
A total of 58 Nagorno-Karabakh soldiers lost their lives on Sunday.
Baku reported that seven civilians were killed, including six members of an Azeri family, and the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region said two civilians had lost their lives in clashes.
Azerbaijan did not provide information on its military losses. In total, at least 67 people, civilians and military from both sides, died.
The actual number could be much higher, as both camps claim to have killed hundreds of soldiers on the other camp.
Armenia enacted martial law on Sunday and ordered a full mobilization of the army after clashes in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
The two Caucasus countries have a long-standing dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region within Azerbaijani territory but populated mainly by ethnic Armenians. Although a ceasefire agreement was reached in 1994, Armenia and Azerbaijan are frequently accused of attacks in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the border between them.
Publisher: BP
