Following an escalation of tensions in recent weeks along the Karabakh-Azerbaijan Line of Contact and along the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted a meeting between Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev in Sochi, Russia.
According to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency, the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan recommitted themselves to peacefully resolve the Karabakh conflict. In the role of mediator, Russian President Putin said that he was pleased that the two presidents agreed on the need for a peaceful settlement because there is “no greater tragedy than the death of people… Any situation can be resolved if there is good will. It seems to me, both the Azeri people and the Armenian people have such good will,” Putin said. He added that Moscow respected the current format for the resolution of the conflict and that they would continue to work closely with both sides.
In a New York Times piece, Putin is quoted as saying, “We need to act wisely and patiently and pay respect to one another to find the solution.” According to the article, President Serzh Sargsyan said, “Back then [1990s] we came to a conclusion that this conflict has no military solution. If we keep blaming each other, I don’t think it will be resolved for a long time.” The Azerbaijani president for his part said, “I hope that we will find a solution in line with…the principles of international law in the nearest future.”
While his tone appeared conciliatory, Aliyev went on to remind Sargsyan of the UN resolutions which called on the “immediate withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territory.” For his part, Serzh Sargsyan said that the conflict should be resolved in line with the basic principles proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group and noted: “Azerbaijan always cites the UN resolutions but I would like to ask Mr Aliyev whether any provision of these documents was ever observed by his country… Armenia was the only side to use its influence to stop hostilities. I think it’s time to put an end to accusations, otherwise, this conflict will remain unsettled for a long time.”
Thorbjorn Jagland, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe welcomed the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents. In a statement, Jagland called on both sides to de-escalate the violence. “I welcome the meeting held today in Sochi between President Aliyev of Azerbaijan, President Sargsyan of Armenia and President Putin of the Russian Federation. Following the latest armed incidents along the Line of Contact and the Armenian-Azerbaijani State border, this meeting marks a positive step towards the resuming of dialogue between the two countries. I call on both sides to undertake all possible efforts to put an end to the escalation of violence which caused numerous victims in both countries in the recent days.”
The recent upsurge of violence resulted in over two dozen casualties, mainly from the Azerbaijani side, and left the Armenian civilian population living along the state border with Azerbaijan under constant Azerbaijani gunfire. This latest round of clashes was the worst in the 20 year self-maintained ceasefire following the Karabakh war. Since 1992, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Russia, France and the United States have been negotiating for a peaceful settlement of the conflict.
