‘Armenia is biggest threat to regional peace’
President Erdoğan announced yesterday that Turkey will always stand with its Azerbaijani brothers and condemned Armenia’s bombing of Azerbaijani civilian and military positions. Yerevan continues to risk the regional security and peace, he said
AFTER ARMENIA carried out attacks against civilians and Azerbaijani military positions early yesterday, Turkey was quick to condemn Yerevan. By attacking Azerbaijan, Armenia has proven once again that it is the biggest obstacle to peace and stability in the region, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said. Tensions rose in the South Caucasus between neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan yesterday morning over clashes in which Yerevan said Azerbaijani forces shelled the region of Nagorno-Karabakh and Baku accused Armenian forces of shelling Azerbaijani military
and civilian positions. Authorities in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh said the region’s capital Stepanakert (Khankendi) has been shelled and urged residents to get to safety. Numerous houses in villages have been destroyed, with injuries reported. The disputed region, self-declared as the “Republic of Artsakh” but not recognized by any country including Armenia, declared a state of war, agencies reported, with all able-bodied residents age 18 and older preparing for action. Later in the day, Azerbaijan also announced military mobilization and declared a state of war in several regions as the parliament has introduced martial law. Both sides blamed each other for the fighting. “Turkey will
continue to stand by its brothers in Azerbaijan as it has always done,” the president said. “The Turkish people will support our Azerbaijani brothers with all our means as always.” Turkey’s president also criticized the international community for failing to give the “necessary and sufficient reaction” to Armenia’s “aggression.” Erdoğan said he held a phone call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during which he was “witness once again to his shrewd and determined position.” “Holding onto its negligent attitude for almost 30 years, the (OSCE) Minsk group, unfortunately, is miles away from acting in a manner that is focused on finding a solution to the conflict,” Erdoğan said.