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Tensions in Nagorno Karabakh/Armenia require greater international presence

2023-04-27 14:32:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has called for a greater international presence to ease tensions with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The call comes shortly after Russia appointed one of its top military commanders to lead a peacekeeping force in the breakaway region.

Speaking during a government hearing on Thursday, April 27, Pashinian accused him of launching a provocation by installing a checkpoint in the Shush region, effectively isolating four communities.

Official Yerevan has already accused official Baku of stoking tensions by blocking the Lachin Corridor, the only road linking the predominantly Armenian-populated region to Armenia.

Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister, Elnur Mammadov, said the checkpoint was set up in response to "security concerns due to Armenia's continued misuse of the route for arms transport and other illegal activities."

Baku says the blockade, which began on December 12, was carried out by Azerbaijani "eco-activists" - who are widely believed to have been acting on a government order. Azerbaijani officials say the road is open for humanitarian purposes, but Armenia has denied this.

Pashinian accused Azerbaijan of not only fueling tensions in the region, but also blamed it for deepening a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh.

"This should be the center of attention for all of us, the international community," he said. "Other than the Russian Federation, no one should control the Lachin Corridor," he added.

Pashinian's call came as French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna began a visit to Azerbaijan to hold talks on easing tensions in the South Caucasus. Armenia has already appealed to the International Court of Justice regarding this checkpoint.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have clashed in a conflict over Nagorno Karabakh for decades. This predominantly Armenian area is part of Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since the end of a separatist war there in 1994.

Russia has about 2,000 peacekeepers deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh after brokering a ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan in late 2020.

Russia said on Wednesday, April 26, that it had appointed Colonel General Aleksandr Lentsov, the deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian ground forces, as the head of the peacekeeping force, replacing Major General Andrei Volkov, a lower-ranking officer.

Moscow did not provide details on the decision, but it came after Pashinian and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation.

Armenian officials have been critical of Moscow for appearing to allow the blockade to continue. The Kremlin is known for violently suppressing protests in the country, but Russian peacekeepers have so far made no attempt to forcefully reopen the road to Nagorno Karabakh./ Rel