  EU urges withdrawal of foreign fighters from Karabakh conflict zone November 20, 2020 - 19:11 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Union has called for the full and prompt withdrawal of all foreign fighters from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, the EU's delegation to Armenia said in a statement published on Facebook. In the war against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), the Turkish armed forces supported Azerbaijan militarily, also by transferring terrorist mercenaries from Libya and Syria to fight against Karabakh. Armenia was the first to report on Turkey's deployment of thousands of Syrian fighters to Azerbaijan. International media publications followed suit, as did reactions from France, Russia, Iran and Syria. The Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army earlier unveiled footage of the interrogation of two such terrorists captured on the front. "The European Union calls on all parties to continue to respect the ceasefire to prevent further loss of life and urges all regional actors to refrain from any actions or rhetoric that could jeopardise the ceasefire. The EU also calls for the full and prompt withdrawal of all foreign fighters from the region. The EU reiterates its full support to the international format of the OSCE Minsk Group led by its Co-Chairs and to the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to pursue this objective," the EU's statement reads. "Furthermore, the European Union underlines the importance of guaranteeing humanitarian access and the best possible conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of the displaced populations and the importance of preserving and restoring the cultural and religious heritage in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. Any war crimes that may have been committed must be investigated." Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev have signed a statement to end the war in Karabakh after almost 45 days. Karabakh (Artsakh) President Arayik Harutyunyan has said he has agreed to the deal signed by Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan.   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news U.S. welcomes Armenia, Azerbaijan’s border delimitation announcement  Blinken said it is an important step towards concluding a durable and dignified peace agreement.Residents Of border villages protest as Armenia, Azerbaijan agree on delimitation Residents of several Armenian communities in the northeastern Tavush province began protests late on Friday.Up to 10% cashback from GetTransfer with IDBank cards IDBank clients who make their booking on GetTransfer will receive an exclusive cashback.Cyprus parliament honors Armenian genocide victims Acting House President Zacharias Koulias noted that April 24 marks the “black anniversary” of the Armenian genocide. |
