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Disputes over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh border region flared up again a week ago. Among other things, the capital Stepanakert has been bombarded with rockets and there have been reports of houses, schools and hospitals bombed.
More than 220 people have died, the BBC reports.
Escalation of the conflict
On Sunday, the situation got even worse. The bombardment against Stepanakert has continued, while Karabach’s leader, Arayik Harutyunyan, has ordered firing at cities within Azerbaijan, according to Swedish radio.
Nagorno-Karabakh authorities say they destroyed the military airport in Azerbaijan’s second-largest city, Ganja, in response to the bombing of Stepanakert by Azerbaijani forces. Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakary Hasanov claims this is “false” and says, according to the BBC, that instead, civil and civil infrastructure and historic buildings were damaged in the attack.
Ann Linde’s Call
Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde, S, Armenia and Azerbaijan are now calling for the resumption of peace talks.
– Evolution is of course very worrying and I really regret the deaths, and there are many civilian deaths. The most important thing now is that the fighting ends immediately and that the parties return to the negotiating table, he tells Swedish Radio.
According to Ann Linde, it is also important that “no other country gets involved in this conflict.” The statement comes after reports that Turkey had sent military aid to Azerbaijan.
Linde has been in contact with the foreign ministers of the two countries, who have different views on who is responsible for the escalation of the conflict.
Ancient conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh
The conflict goes back a long time. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan make historical claims about Nagorno-Karabakh, which today formally belongs to Azerbaijan, but where the majority of the roughly 150,000 inhabitants are Armenians.
In connection with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, when the two countries declared themselves independent, the violent clashes turned into a full-scale war. Nagorno-Karabakh also declared its independence in 1991, but the outside world has not recognized it.
In 1994, the parties reached a ceasefire. However, no peace agreement has been signed, and last week the border region was hit by the worst fighting since then.
Both Armenia and Azerbaijan now accuse the other side of attacking civilian targets.
