U.N. Security Council discusses Azerbaijan’s attack on Artsakh on Sept. 29

The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday called a special session to discuss Azerbaijan’s unprovoked attacks along the entire border of Artsakh, expressing concern that the most recent clashes could “spiral into all-out war between Armenia and Azerbaijan.”

The 15-member security council held a close-door discussion on the matter and emerged with a strong condemnation of “use of force.”

“Security Council members voiced support for the call by the Secretary General on the sides to immediately stop fighting, de-escalate tensions and return to meaningful negotiations without delay,” the Council said in a statement.

The meeting was held at the request of Estonia, a permanent member of the Council. What the meeting did not do is condemn Azerbaijan for its aggression, nor did it address Turkey’s intervention in the conflict, which threatens the stability of the region.

Ahead of Tuesday’s security council meeting, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who pointed to Turkey’s “direct destabilizing” involvement in Azerbaijan’s latest attacks.

Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan sent a letter to Guterres on Monday detailing Azerbaijan’s latest aggression in Artsakh, including the deliberate targeting of the civilian population and infrastructures using heavy artillery and force.

“The aggression was pre-planned, and the statements of the Azerbaijani side on the alleged counter-attack are absolutely falsified. Azerbaijan has never concealed its strategic goal of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by the use of force, while continuously maintaining tension along the line of contact and the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border,” said Mnatsakanyan in his letter.

The foreign minister also expressed Yerevan’s concern over Turkey’s unconditional and unilateral support to Azerbaijan and its aggression. Strongly condemning Azerbaijan’s aggression, Mnatsakanyan emphasized that Azerbaijan’s attacks, which violate the ceasefire, are not only a gross violation of international humanitarian law, but also pose the risk of escalating into a full-scale regional war.

Mnatsakanyan criticized Azerbaijan’s attacks pointing out that they directly oppose Guterres’ calls for a global ceasefire during the Covid-19 pandemic. He stressed that the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan bears full responsibility for the aggression.

Mnatsakanyan told the U.N. leader that Armenia, as the guarantor of the security of the people of Artsakh, will take all necessary measures to protect the inalienable rights of the people of Artsakh and will give an adequate response to the Azerbaijani aggression.

“The right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination is an integral part of the conflict resolution, and by virtue of this right the people of Artsakh must be able to determine its status without any limitation,” Mnatsakanyan said in the letter, reiterating Armenia’s commitment to a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict.