Karabakh Foreign Minister says glad for "shared vision" with Pompeo

PanARMENIAN.Net - Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Foreign Minister Masis Mayilyan has said he is glad that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reiterated the two countries' shared vision that the resolution of Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict is possible exclusively through peaceful negotiations.

"It is important to make sure Turkey stops pushing Azerbaijan and international terrorists to continue inhuman aggression against our democracy," Mayilyan said late Thursday, October 15.

Pompeo voiced hope Thursday that Armenia would "defend" itself against Azerbaijan: "We're hopeful that the Armenians will be able to defend against what the Azerbaijanis are doing," Pompeo said in an interview with WBS radio in Atlanta.

"We now have the Turks, who have stepped in and provided resources to Azerbaijan, increasing the risk, increasing the firepower that's taking place in this historic fight over this place called Nagorno-Karabakh," Pompeo added.

While the Artsakh Foreign Minister hailed Pompeo's stance, he urged the international community to take constructive steps to help stop the violence.

"We share Secretary Pompeo’s hope that Armenians will be able to defend against what Azerbaijanis are doing. At the same time, we expect the international community to play its active constructive role in order to stop crimes against humanity and genocidal threats by the triple unity of Turkey, Azerbaijan and international terrorists. Recognition of the Republic of Artsakh’s independence is a must for a lasting regional peace," Mayilyan said.

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey and Syrian and Libyan mercenaries deployed by Ankara, started a war against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. Foreign and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages.

Donations can be made to Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, which has launched a fundraising campaign to support humanitarian efforts in Karabakh.