Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the State Duma's international affairs committee, said that Russia and other states – co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – do not support any of the parties to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. TASS reports.
Slutsky responded to accusations of arms deliveries to Armenia, which, according to Turkish President Recep Erdogan, were organized by Russia, the United States and France. “Unfortunately, such statements do not contribute to a peaceful settlement and de-escalation of the situation in the conflict zone,” the Russian politician believes.
According to Slutsky, it is necessary to strive for the fulfillment of the ceasefire agreements, which were reached during the Moscow talks between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Today, everyone should continue to search for political and diplomatic ways to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, not to slip into aggressive rhetoric and mutual accusations,” he stressed.
Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Russia, France and the United States of being the main suppliers of weapons to Armenia. He also noted that the Armenian side has repeatedly violated the truce with Azerbaijan.
On September 27, clashes broke out in Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan stated that Armenian forces fired at its positions and settlements and announced a counteroffensive. Yerevan noted that Baku attacked the unrecognized republic. The Armenian side claims that 4,000 militants are fighting on the side of Azerbaijan, which Turkey has transferred from Syria.
In 1991, Nagorno-Karabakh, the majority of whose population were Armenians, declared independence from Azerbaijan. Baku tried to return the region by force, a war broke out. In 1994, Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, through the mediation of Russia, signed a truce protocol. However, hostilities periodically resume.
