Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Continues: A Truce That Only Lasts Minutes

Benrtrok around Nagorho-Karabah (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - Armenia and Azerbaijan accuse each other of violations of the latest ceasefire in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. The counterattack took place minutes after the ceasefire came into effect, Monday, October 26.

The United States-mediated ceasefire was announced in Washington on Sunday, October 25. The truce took effect at 08.00 local time. Then, another attack occurred shortly after.

The fighting has extended a series of clashes between the two camps that have erupted since Sept. 27 around the mountains. In recent days, the conflict has heated up again.

The announcement follows discussions between US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov. The US State Department said the deal was reached after intense negotiations. US President Donald Trump, Sunday, October 25 congratulated those involved in the ceasefire.

Congratulations to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who just agreed to adhere to a cease fire effective at midnight. Many lives will be saved. Proud of my team @SecPompeo & Steve Biegun & @WHNSC for getting the deal done!

- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2020

The post-ceasefire attack was initiated by an attack that Azerbaijan accused the Armenian troops. Azerbaijan says Armenia has opened fire on Terter City and a number of other nearby villages.

Azerbaijan responded by calling the Armenian attack a "serious violation of the treaty." In contrast, the Armenian defense ministry said Azerbaijani artillery had fired on military positions on various parts of the front line after the ceasefire agreement began.

In a post on Facebook, Armenian President Nikol Pashinyan insisted his country "continues to strictly adhere to the ceasefire regime." Hikmet Hajiyev, a spokesman for the President of Azerbaijan said Armenia was trying to "maintain the status quo based on the occupation," while emphasizing Azerbaijan's "restraint" attitude.

Mediators from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will also meet again on Thursday, October 29 to discuss the conflict. Two previous trucees brokered by Russia had failed.

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev has also warned Russia not to get involved militarily in the conflict. Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan but is under the control of ethnic Armenians.

Clashes that started in the region in September quickly escalated into large-scale conflict, with shelling of towns and suspected use of banned cluster munitions. Several thousand people have died and shelling has killed civilians on both sides. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes.