Washington to host talks on Nagorno-Karabakh and Pakistan believes in restoring Azerbaijan sovereign

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Washington to host talks on Nagorno-Karabakh4

Armenia and Azerbaijan said on Tuesday their foreign ministers would meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington on Friday in efforts to end the heaviest fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh since the 1990s. The State Department did not immediately comment. But the planned meetings suggest that, just before the US presidential election, Washington is stepping up involvement in moves to calm a conflict. It was not immediately clear whether the warring sides' foreign ministers would meet Pompeo separately or at the same time.

Azerbaijan said its foreign minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, would also meet envoys of the OSCE security and rights watchdog's so-called Minsk Group, whose co-chairs Russia, France and the United States have for years led mediation in the conflict. Armenia released few details about Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan's plans in Washington.

Qureshi: Pakistan believes in restoring Azerbaijan's sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday said that Pakistan believes in restoring Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The minister expressed these views during a phone call with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov. In a statement, the Foreign Office (FO) said that the two discussed bilateral relations and the ongoing conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the breakaway region.

The foreign minister expressed deep concern on the deteriorating security situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and expressed full solidarity with the brotherly nation of Azerbaijan and its people at this difficult time, Qureshi also expressed concern over the reprehensible targeting and killing of civilians by Armenian forces and hoped for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.

He also recognised Azerbaijan’s valuable support to Pakistan on the Kashmir issue at various international forums, including the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir. He briefed his counterpart on the grave human rights violations and other repressive actions being perpetrated by Indian occupation forces in occupied Jammu &Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Bayramov appreciated Pakistan’s support to Azerbaijan and briefed Qureshi on the latest situation. During the phone call, the two ministers expressed satisfaction at the state of bilateral relations and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including trade and economic, cultural and educational fields. Qureshi also reiterated his invitation to Bayramov to visit Pakistan.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Imran Khan, on the occasion of Azerbaijan's Independence Day had paid tribute to Azeri forces valiantly defending their territorial integrity. He said, Pakistan stands with Azerbaijan in its quest to resolve Nagorno-Karabakh issue as per UN Security Council resolutions.

Azerbaijan: international community should impose sanctions on Armenia

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has urged the international community to impose sanctions on Armenia. In a televised speech on Tuesday, Aliyev said that Armenian army is involved in massacres of civilians, adding Armenia should respect the international law. Aliyev expressed the resolve that Azerbaijan would liberate its lands from the Armenian occupation, adding the Azerbaijani army has liberated Zangilan city. In addition, six villages of Fuzuli, seven villages of Jabrayil, five villages of Khojavend and six villages of Zangilan have also been liberated. Aliyev's statement came as a ceasefire in the mountain territory of Nagorno-Karabakh was under severe strain on Tuesday after fierce new clashes between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces.

Turkish parliament speaker: Minsk Group chairs brain dead

Turkish Parliament Speaker Mustafa Şentop has said, Minsk Group chairs United States, Russia and France are brain dead and suggesting that a war is legitimate when a country is trying to liberate its lands from occupation.

Şentop addressed the Azerbaijani Parliament on his third day in Baku, where he was accompanied by a large parliament delegation to lend support to Azerbaijan in the ongoing conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Minsk Group has not shown will to solve the problem. In addition one of these co-chairs being totally unaware of article 51 of the U.N. Charter that stipulates the right to self-defense, has accused Turkey and Azerbaijan of attacking Nagorno-Karabakh, part of the Azerbaijani territories. If that’s the case, just like his description of other organizations, the Minsk Group is brain dead,” Şentop told Azerbaijani lawmakers, in a obvious reference to French President Emmanuel Macron, who had suggested that NATO was brain dead last year.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has turned into an acute problem because of Armenia’s non-reconciliatory attitude, Şentop said, accusing Yerevan of trying to institutionalize its occupation of Azerbaijani lands through state politics. This terror state, rogue state as the international law defines, has continued its attacks against the civilians despite the humanitarian truce brokered in Moscow and recalling these acts as war crimes.

Şentop reiterated that the only solution to the problem is the withdrawal of the Armenian troops from the Azerbaijani territories and called on the international powers who support Yerevan to give up playing a dangerous game in the Caucasus. He said, Turkey will continue to stand with its brothers in its rightful cause and defense of their homeland as it has until today.

Armenians and Azerbaijanis in Moscow Pay Tribute to Karabakh Victims

A Moscow brokered ceasefire has proven to be unreliable as military and civilian casualties continue to rise on both sides. Over the weekend, members of the Armenian and Azerbaijani diasporas in Moscow gathered near their respective embassies to commemorate the victims, setting up improvised memorials with flowers, candles, toys and portraits.

Azerbaijan military continues to liberate lands from Armenian occupation

Azerbaijan's military continues to carry out operations to liberate territories occupied by Armenia, the country's Defense Ministry said Tuesday. In a statement, the ministry said operations against Armenian forces continued throughout the night in Aghdara, Aghdam, Fuzuli, Hadrut, Jabrayil, Qubadli and Zangilan. Armenian forces opened fire on the defense line of the Azerbaijani army with artillery rounds and mortars. The Azerbaijani army destroyed two T-72 tanks, four grad missile systems, one D-30 howitzer and five vehicles belonging to the Armenian forces. According to the statement, several Armenian soldiers were neutralized in the operations, and the situation at the front was under the control of the Azerbaijani army.