{"id":590,"date":"2020-10-30T02:03:20","date_gmt":"2020-10-30T02:03:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/armeniaglobe.com\/?p=590"},"modified":"2022-03-02T07:52:23","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T07:52:23","slug":"as-the-nagorno-karabakh-conflict-intensifies-erdogan-adds-fuel-to-the-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/armeniaglobe.com\/hy\/as-the-nagorno-karabakh-conflict-intensifies-erdogan-adds-fuel-to-the-fire\/","title":{"rendered":"As the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Intensifies, Erdogan Adds Fuel to the Fire"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Friday, October 23rd, saw a significant escalation in the rising tensions between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. It is estimated that, up until this point, thousands of people have lost their lives in the conflict: Russian President Vladimir Putin is on record as saying the total casualty number is \u201cnearing 5,000\u201d with \u201cmore than 2,000 from each side.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.\u201d It is worth noting, however, that these figures are significantly higher than the death toll put forward by both sides involved in the conflict. As news broke a week ago of a Russian-brokered truce agreement between both sides in the conflict, fighting has continued to intensify over the past week \u2014 Azerbaijan recently accused Armenian forces of firing a number of ballistic missiles into Azerbaijan, to which Armenia have officially denied. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Armenia, on the other hand, reported continued fighting, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stating a solution to the conflict has not arisen \u201cat this stage\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The problems caused by the escalation in tensions does not end there \u2014 Human Rights Watch, an international non-governmental organization that examines potential human rights violations, has accused Azerbaijan of consistently and repeatedly using banned cluster munitions in residential areas in the Nagorno-Karabakh region<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stephen Goose,<\/strong> Arms Division Director at Human Rights Watch, stated: \u201cThe continued use of cluster munitions<\/a> \u2013 particularly in populated areas \u2013 shows flagrant disregard for the safety of civilians. Cluster munitions should never be used by anyone under any circumstances, much less in cities, due to the foreseeable and unacceptable harm to civilians.\u201d The shocking reveal came off the back of an on-site investigation in Nagorno-Karabakh conducted by Human Rights Watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The brutal extent of the conflict does not stop there, either. Ordinarily, you would think that the illegal use of explosives \u2014 cluster munitions \u2014 in residential areas would be the most atrocious act to occur during the conflict. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, that does not appear to be the case whatsoever. A video allegedly showing two Armenian men dressing in military uniform being captured by Azerbaijani troops, and later brutally executed with their hands behind their backs, has surfaced across social media. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Screenshot from a video on social media showing two Armenians being captured in Hadrut<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The execution of the two men \u2014 identified by Armenian authorities as Benik Hakobyan, 73, and Yuri Adamyan, 25 \u2014 has been met with united condemnation. The Council of Europe are actively trying to verify the validity of the video and, if proven to be authentic, it is likely that the video<\/a> would suffice as a war crime and action will be taken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington Interference<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The escalation to the violence has been met with a concerted effort by US officials to bring an end to a conflict that has, so far, shown no signs of slowing down. The United States\u2019 diplomatic efforts include Mike Pompeo \u2014 US Secretary of State \u2014 meeting with Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in an attempt to mediate and broker a peace deal. The foreign ministers held separate talks with the US Secretary of State and it is thought that the meetings stressed the global importance of both countries involved in the conflict entering negotiations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan is quoted as saying the meeting went \u201cvery good\u201d as he departed from the State Department. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

US President Trump is positive about the outlook for both sides in the conflict, telling the Oval Office: \u201c[There\u2019s] good progress. [\u2026] We\u2019re working with Armenia. We have a very good relationship with Armenia \u2026 We\u2019ll see what happens.\u201d Added to that is the fact that Putin has stated that he is in \u201cconstant dialogue\u201d with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan<\/a> and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev<\/a>, talking to them \u201con the phone several times a day\u201d, and it appears that Trump\u2019s positivity for a resolution appears to be well founded<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n