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    Mike Maghakian
  • 1 year ago
    • Categories: 2023

Renewed Dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia Worrying, Warns Foreign Minister

Hungary Today
Aug 14 2023
Hungary Today 2023.08.14.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade called the news of renewed disputes between the two countries on the issue of humanitarian deliveries “disturbing”. Péter Szijjártó wrote that the role of international organizations, especially the International Committee of the Red Cross, could be of great help in this situation.

“Hungary is on the side of peace, and we urge an end to the suffering of people who have lived through a long war. I informed both my colleagues, Azeri Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, of this position by phone last night,” Péter Szijjártó stressed.

He emphasized it was regrettable that many security conflicts were complicating life in the world.

On the Azeri-Armenian conflict, the Foreign Minister pointed out that it had long bitterly affected the lives of people in the region. “Hungary has always stood for a peaceful settlement, respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty. We welcome the peace agreement and hope that its implementation will put an end to the suffering of many, many people,” he concluded.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have not officially demarcated their mutual borders since becoming independent states following collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The issue of border demarcation between the two countries arose immediately after the defeat of Armenia in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, and Azerbaijan regaining control over its occupied territories. Before the 2020 war, there was no mutually agreed upon border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with certain Armenian villages and agricultural workers crossing over into Azerbaijan. During Soviet times, cross-border interactions and movements were common.

The military forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been engaged in a border conflict since 12 May 2021, when Azerbaijani soldiers crossed several kilometers into Armenia in the provinces of Syunik and Gegharkunik. Azerbaijan is currently occupying at least 50 square kilometers of Armenian territory. Azerbaijan has not withdrawn its troops from internationally recognized Armenian territory despite calls to do so by the European Parliament, United States and France. Since the end of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, Azerbaijan has made numerous incursions into Armenian territory.

Tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the key transit route in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region have been flaring up again in recent days, reports Magyar Nemzet. The tension has been caused by Azerbaijan’s setting up of a border checkpoint at the entrance to the Lachin corridor, the only land link between the Armenian-led breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Armenia. Yerevan claims that this has put them under a blockade. Baku denies this and claims that they want to stop Armenian arms and ammunition smuggling. The checkpoint was temporarily shut down earlier this month to investigate the situation, thanks to the Armenian branch of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
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