Azeris and Armenians Plunge Into War

Armenia should “seriously discuss” recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence as a response to the renewed conflict, Pashinyan told lawmakers in parliament.

While it provides military and financial support to Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia has held back from recognizing the territory’s independence through decades of talks led by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to try to negotiate a settlement of the conflict.

NATO ‘Concerned’

The OSCE called for a cease-fire and the resumption of negotiations. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization said it was “deeply concerned” by the fighting in a statement.

The conflict comes after tensions between the two sides rose sharply last week, when Aliyev alleged that Armenia was massing forces near Nagorno-Karabakh for a new war. Armenia dismissed the claim as groundless and accused Aliyev of preparing for a war.

The fighting “is a war against our independence, freedom and dignity,” Pashinyan said in a televised address to the nation. “The Armenian people are ready for that war.”

Azeri forces are “fighting on our soil, and have no claim to anyone’s land,” Aliyev said in his speech. “We’ll win because our cause is just.”

--With assistance from Áine Quinn and Selcan Hacaoglu.

© 2020 Bloomberg L.P.