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Turkey and Azerbaijan Want War on Nagorno-Karabakh, Not Resolution

Written by Subject: Turkey

Turkey and Azerbaijan Want War in Nagorno-Karabakh, Not Resolution

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

In its fourth week, Azerbaijan initiated war on Nagorno-Karabakh (NK below) continues with no resolution in prospect.

Efforts by Sergey Lavrov to get warring sides to observe ceasefire failed twice.

Once again he called on both sides to observe humanitarian ceasefire.

He also stressed the importance of "substantive talks aimed at reaching an early peace settlement based on the fundamental principles and mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs."

As fighting continues, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian said there's "no need to pull Russia into the conflict."

Both countries are Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) members.

The military alliance of six post-Soviet Russia states obligates them to defend members attacked by foreign powers — the principle of collective defense against external aggression.

According to Sarkissian, "Armenians…proved they can defend their land by themselves."

"Nagorno-Karabakh's Armenians have already proved they can defend their land by themselves." 

"Instead of involving Russia or any other (CSTO) country (militarily), it is necessary to disinvolve Turkey which is playing a destructive role in" NK by supplying Baku with heavy weapons and Ankara's direct involvement on the ground.

Discussing the conflict on Monday, Russia's UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia said the following:

"There is a need to ensure verification" of ceasefire to make it stick.

"I think that's the most pressing issue now." Since the agreement on a ceasefire has been reached, it was not observed."

"The major question is how to verify the ceasefire, which is being violated."

In talks with his Armenian and Azeri counterparts in person and by phone, Lavrov raised the verification mechanism issue.

While warring sides were amenable to the idea, it hasn't been implemented so far.

According to Nebenzia, "(w)ho will (monitor things) and in what capacity, who will be actually verifying it - that's still a question being discussed."

On Monday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accused Turkey's Erdogan of undermining ceasefire, saying the following:

"I am sure that so far we have not managed to implement the Moscow (ceasefire) agreement because there are forces that are preventing it, sabotaging it for sure." 

"First and foremost, it is Turkey. (The Erdogan regime) is interested in seeing the Moscow agreement fail."

His "actions are aimed at elbowing Russia out of the South Caucasus,"

He hope(s) to undermine the authority of the Russian Federation in the" region — in pursuit of his neo-Ottoman aims.

Pashinyan believes that world community sentiment is "shirt(ing) (toward) international recognition of the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh."

"(R)elevant documents, resolutions, and decisions have already been made" in the West to make this a reality, he claimed.

Several European parliaments condemned Azeri "aggression."

On Monday, French lawmaker Valerie Boyer she'll submit a Senate proposal to recognize NK's independence, saying the following:

"To oppose the advance of Azerbaijan in (NK) is also to oppose the expansion of Turkish Islam across Europe." 

"This week I will table a text in the Senate to recognize (NK) and condemn the actions of Turkey and Azerbaijan."

At the same time, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he supports a balanced approach to resolving conflict in the enclave.

On Tuesday, Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan said Azeri forces failed to break through Yerevan's line of control in NK.

Armenian President Sarkissian accused Turkey's Erdogan of supporting Azeri initiated war in NK to gain greater influence in the South Caucasus, adding:

He aims to "manage oil oil and gas pipelines that are laid to Europe" to gain leverage over the continent's energy supplies.

Russia continues urging warring sides to observe agreed on ceasefire terms.

Separately on Tuesday, former Soviet Russia President Mikhail Gorbachev (now aged-89) expressed dismay over the alarming state of things going on, saying the following:

"Much of what we achieved 30 years ago has been thwarted: disarmament treaties, cooperation programs, and what is most important — trust," adding:

"Much effort, political will and wisdom are needed to rebuild trust and get back to the path of cooperation. It is not easy but I am sure it is possible."

At the same time, he laid blame where it belongs.

Pointing fingers at Washington, he stressed the "responsibility of those who have declared themselves the winner of the Cold War, who have arrogated special rights (to themselves) in global politics."

Convincing hegemon USA to change its ways has been an unattainable goal throughout the post-WW II period.

No matter which right wing of its one-party state controls with White House and/or Congress post November elections, things are likely to worsen, not improve.

VISIT MY WEBSITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

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"Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity"

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