Champagne deplores suggestion of military solution in Azerbaijan-Armenia fight
Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Friday he deplores a statement by Azerbaijan’s president that a military solution is the only way to solve his country’s current crisis with Armenia.
The renewed fighting in the decades-old conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh region entered its ninth day Friday and will be a key focus of Champagne’s second overseas trip in less than two months.
Friday’s announcement of a four-country European tour appeared to underscore Champagne’s commitment to project Canada as a defender human rights while forging alliances with trusted, longtime allies.
Along with his British counterpart, Dominic Raab, Champagne has called for a ceasefire in the conflict, saying a negotiated settlement is the only way to end the heavy shelling by warplanes, drones and artillery that has seen both sides trade allegations of indiscriminately attacking civilians.
On Friday, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in an address to his country that the conflict is now being settled by military means and political means will have to follow.
“I would deplore anyone who thinks that the use of force is the best way to resolve the current conflict. Quite the opposite,” Champagne said Friday in a conference call from Ottawa.
“Conflicts are resolved around the negotiating table, not on the battlefield.”
Champagne also spoke Friday to his
Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, days after Canada suspended military exports to the NATO ally. Champagne said he reiterated the public allegations that a targeting sensor made by southern Ontario company is being used in Azerbaijani fighter jets to pummel Armenian targets.
Champagne has suspended export permits to Turkey, pending the outcome of an investigation into whether the Canadian technology is being used in the skies above Nagorno-Karabakh.