Fragile ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh after ‘constructive’ peace talks

AFP :
A fragile ceasefire held on Friday in Nagorno-Karabakh, after Armenian separatists this week capitulated to Azerbaijan’s lightning offensive.

Azerbaijan and the separatists from the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh held their first direct peace talks Thursday, after Baku claimed to have regained control over the breakaway region.

The separatists agreed to lay down their arms on Wednesday as part of a Russian-brokered ceasefire plan that halted Azerbaijan’s 24-hour offensive to retake land at the centre of decades of conflict.

Azerbaijan’s presidency said the two-hour meeting had been “held in a constructive and peaceful atmosphere” in the presence of Russian peacekeepers.

Both sides expressed readiness to hold more talks.

Baku’s negotiators presented plans for the “reintegration” of Karabakh’s Armenian population into Azerbaijan and pledged to provide urgently needed fuel, humanitarian supplies, and medical care to residents.

While the meeting was happening, gunfire rang out in the separatist stronghold of Stepanakert, despite the truce deal. The breakaway authorities accused Azerbaijan of violating the ceasefire, but Baku denied the allegation.

Russia’s defence ministry also said it observed “five ceasefire violations” in the areas of Shusha and Mardakert.

Hours later, Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers clashed during a UN Security Council emergency meeting on the crisis that, according to the separatists, has claimed 200 lives.

“There are no more sides of the conflict, but perpetrators and victims.

There is no more conflict, but the real danger of atrocity,” said Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.