Brussels, 13 September 2022 (TDI): High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that the armed confrontations between Armenia and Azerbaijan on 13 September 2022 were a dangerous escalation that needs to stop.
Last night’s armed confrontations between #Armenia and #Azerbaijan is a dangerous escalation that needs to stop. We urge immediate cessation of hostilities and return to the negotiation table. #EU is in touch with both sides to contribute to de-escalation.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) September 13, 2022
Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinian said that Armenia lost at least 49 soldiers in the recent border clashes with Azerbaijan. He calls from all over the world for an immediate end to hostilities between the two Caucasus rivals.
Since the closure of the 2020 conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Azerbaijan’s separatist Nagorno-Karabakh territory, there have been many flare-ups across their shared border.
Armenian Defense Ministry said that intense artillery and heavy weapons fire from Azerbaijan was directed toward Armenian military positions in the region.
In return, Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry said that Large-scale disruptive activities were reported close to the bordering districts of Dashkesan, Kelbajar, and Lachin. Azerbaijan’s army that was positioned there came under fire, especially from trench mortars.
Both Armenia and Azerbaijan blamed each other for the latest escalation of the historical border dispute between them over Nagorno-Karabakh.
The EU also mediated the most recent meeting between Armenian President Pashinian and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, which was held on August 31 in Brussels to reduce tension between the two states.
Also Read: EU to strengthen cooperation with Azerbaijan
Border Clash between Armenia and Azerbaijan
Armenia and Azerbaijan are both parts of eastern Europe and were under the control of the Soviet Union during the cold war. After the end of the cold war, both countries get their independence.
The main reason for the conflict between them is the region of Nagorno Karabakh which was declared a disputed region after the disintegration of the USSR.
This region is heavily mountainous and has forests. That’s why not much populated but ethnically they are Armenian Christians who wanted to be a part of Armenia. But at the time of Soviet rule, the Nagorno Karabakh region was controlled by Azerbaijan.
So, after independence, the Armenian separatist invades Nagorno Karabakh and controls a majority of the region, and justifies this invasion with ethnonational commonality.
And Azerbaijan also started to use its army on its sovereignty violations. From that point, the conflict goes on.
The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a treaty that would create a durable peace following the conflict in 2020 but the armed confrontation is still going on.
