Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region that connects Armenia and Azerbaijan. The border region has been the pivotal cause of war between the two countries. The conflict over the border region began prior to both Armenia and Azerbaijan gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Conflict broke out between the two nations, over the controllership of the border region, before ceasefire was achieved in 1994. Thousands of souls have been lost in two over Nagorno-Karabakh border disputes. The first war lasted for six years, before it ended in 1994.
However, in September 2020, anther violence erupted between the two nations over Nagorno-Karabakh and its surrounding territories. Azerbaijan made gains during the conflict, as it conquered most of the occupied territories surrounding the border. A trilateral ceasefire agreement was signed between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia, to end the war, after three months.
However, Armenia and Azerbaijan, have rekindle the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Both countries are blaming each other of firing their gun along the border. The recent confrontation comes days after EU claimed to have held talks over resolving the three-decade border dispute.
As the clashes have began again, the two nation are on negotiating table to resolve the war. The Nagorno-Karabakh border region per international law, is recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but the region is populated by Armenia nationals.
“Azerbaijan forces are shooting artilleries and mortars at Armenian position in the Sotk region,” “in the east”, the Armenian Defense Ministry issued a statement concerning the recent conflict. “A soldier from the Azerbaijan Army was killed, after a provocation from the Armenian forces,” the Azerbaijan Defense Ministry narrated its side of the story.
The violence comes days before the European union council President Charles Mahel, is set to welcome leaders of both countries in Brussel. Armenia and Azerbaijan have also agreed to meet together with leaders of France and Germany, on the sidelines of the upcoming European Summit in Moldova.
The summit comes after the U.S has said there is a “tangible progress” in the region, and have made in talks with their respective foreign ministers. The talks were aimed to ending the long standing conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Russia Accuses Azerbaijan Of Breaking Ceasefire Agreement.
Russia, which has been the mother country of the two nations, has always been the mediator that sees to calm down both parties when clashes occur. However, Russia thus accused Azerbaijan of violating the 2020 ceasefire agreement with Armenia, by allowing it troops cross over the demarcated line.
Russia has recently found it difficult to intervene into matters, due to the military operation it has embarked in Ukraine, since February 2022.
The Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, accused Baku of poised to “undermine the talks” in Brussels, but said he will attend the meeting. “I have not changed my mind about going to Brussels,” Pashinyan said.
Pashinyan has also said there was “very little” chance of agreeing to a peace deal with Azerbaijan at the incoming meeting. The draft agreement “is still at a very preliminary stage and it is too early to speak of an eventual signature,” the Prime Minister averred.
Clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan have broken out regularly since their first ceasefire agreement. There seems to be no proper gains in building a diplomatic relation between the two nations, as both claim ownership of the Nagorno-Karabakh border region.
READ ALSO: Adam Price Quits As Report Indicts Him
