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The bloody conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh continues. The danger of expansion is real, said SRF correspondent David Nauer.
The conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region between Armenia and Azerbaijan has flared again for a week. The number of victims increases every day. Azerbaijan, encouraged by the Turks, is proceeding very deliberately, says Russian correspondent David Nauer.
David nauer
Russia Correspondent, SRF
SRF News: The fighting is increasing dramatically. What do you know about the current situation?
David Nauer: In the last few days there have been clashes all over the front line. Azerbaijanis report the conquest of numerous areas, including several ghost villages and a small town in the buffer zone. But places in the interior are also being bombed, including Nagorno-Karabach’s capital, Stepanakert, where cluster munitions are said to have also been used. The Armenians fired rockets at the second largest city in Azerbaijan, Ganja.
What do we know about the victims?
Information varies a lot. The Armenians claim they killed more than 3,000 Azerbaijani soldiers. Azerbaijanis speak of the loss of 2000 men among Armenians. These numbers are undoubtedly inflated propaganda. The truth is that there were many fatalities, including several dozen civilians. Azerbaijanis regularly posted videos of the fighting. They show how Armenian tanks and soldiers are destroyed. The number of victims must be quite large.
The truth is that there were many fatalities, including several dozen civilians.
Do you already know more about the origin of climbing?
The fighting indicates that the Azerbaijanis have escalated the conflict. They want to reconquer the Nagorno-Karabakh region. They are very specific and also very relentless. President Ilham Aliyev made it clear that a ceasefire was possible, but only if Armenia withdrew from Nagorno-Karabakh. The tone is different in Armenia: President Nikol Pashinyan has recently been willing to negotiate whether Azerbaijan stops its aggression.
Azerbaijani artillery caused considerable damage to the capital of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Stepanakert.
Keystone
Azerbaijan has the support of Turkey and is militarily superior. Does Azerbaijan have any advantages?
Clearly. Territories have been captured and the Azerbaijanis are not interested in a ceasefire. Turkey’s support plays a very important role. It is clear that it is behind Azerbaijan and not only hands over weapons, but also verbally pours fuel on the fire. This has undoubtedly encouraged Azerbaijan to take military action.
Azerbaijan is very objective and also very relentless.
For days, Armenia has been asking for help from the protecting power Russia. What’s behind?
Russia is hesitant and apparently does not want to be involved in the conflict. Armenia is a very small and poor country with a tragic history. The genocide of the Armenians by the Turks continues to have a traumatic effect. It is the great fear of being trapped between enemies. It is about home and existence, that is the sentiment in Armenia, and therefore also this dramatic rhetoric.
SRF
How great is the danger that the conflict will spread beyond the Nagorno-Karabakh region?
The danger is real. A senior Armenian official said yesterday that although he does not believe that the city of Yerevan is in danger. So at least that was expected. However, there is a risk of a great war. In the past, the conflict used to fall asleep after a few days. He’s been going for a week and no one knows what it will be like in a week.
Interview by Roger Aebli.
