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CLINTON WARNS AZERI-ARMENIAN SKIRMISHES COULD SPARK BROADER REGIONAL CONFLICTS
By Palash R. Ghosh
International Business Times
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/348866/20120605/armenia-azerbaijain-clinton-conflicts-nagorno.htm
June 5 2012
Cross-border raids have led to the deaths of five Azerbaijani soldiers
by Armenian troops, just one day after three Armenians were killed
along the tense border between the two ancient enemies.
Azerbaijan's defense ministry accused an "Armenian sabotage group"
of carrying out the killings. In response, the Armenian defense
ministry said its personnel were simply reacting to an attempted
illegal border-crossing by Azerbaijani forces.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have engaged in repeated tit-for-tat killings
and skirmishes ever since the 1994 ceasefire following the conflict
over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Nagorno-Karabakh, which lies entirely within Azerbaijan, was taken
over by Armenian forces during the 1988-1994 war that killed about
30,000 people and displaced 1 million others.
Technically, Armenia and Azerbaijan remain at war since there was a
never a comprehensive final peace agreement between the two parties.
Nagorno-Karabakh has a majority Armenian population, although
Azerbaijan claims it as its own and has repeatedly threatened military
force to seize the region. Armenia has in turn vowed a full-scale
war if Azerbaijan tried such a military adventure in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The resumption of violence comes as U.S. Secretary of State Hilary
is visiting the southern Caucasus region to urge for peace.
"I am very concerned about the danger of escalation of tensions
and the senseless deaths of young soldiers and innocent civilians,"
Clinton said on Monday after meeting with Armenia's president Serzh
Sarkisyan and foreign minister, Edward Nalbandian.
"The use of force will not resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and
therefore force must not be used. And we are calling on everyone to
renounce force as well as refraining from violence. I assured the
president that I would make these points in Baku [Azerbaijan]."
Warning that a worsening Azeri-Armenian conflict could spark wider
problems in the region, Clinton said that the US, in tandem with
Russia and France, would seek to mediate peace.
After visiting with top government officials in Armenia on Monday,
Clinton is spending Tuesday in Georgia. On Wednesday, the secretary
will journey to Azerbaijan.
By Palash R. Ghosh
International Business Times
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/348866/20120605/armenia-azerbaijain-clinton-conflicts-nagorno.htm
June 5 2012
Cross-border raids have led to the deaths of five Azerbaijani soldiers
by Armenian troops, just one day after three Armenians were killed
along the tense border between the two ancient enemies.
Azerbaijan's defense ministry accused an "Armenian sabotage group"
of carrying out the killings. In response, the Armenian defense
ministry said its personnel were simply reacting to an attempted
illegal border-crossing by Azerbaijani forces.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have engaged in repeated tit-for-tat killings
and skirmishes ever since the 1994 ceasefire following the conflict
over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Nagorno-Karabakh, which lies entirely within Azerbaijan, was taken
over by Armenian forces during the 1988-1994 war that killed about
30,000 people and displaced 1 million others.
Technically, Armenia and Azerbaijan remain at war since there was a
never a comprehensive final peace agreement between the two parties.
Nagorno-Karabakh has a majority Armenian population, although
Azerbaijan claims it as its own and has repeatedly threatened military
force to seize the region. Armenia has in turn vowed a full-scale
war if Azerbaijan tried such a military adventure in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The resumption of violence comes as U.S. Secretary of State Hilary
is visiting the southern Caucasus region to urge for peace.
"I am very concerned about the danger of escalation of tensions
and the senseless deaths of young soldiers and innocent civilians,"
Clinton said on Monday after meeting with Armenia's president Serzh
Sarkisyan and foreign minister, Edward Nalbandian.
"The use of force will not resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and
therefore force must not be used. And we are calling on everyone to
renounce force as well as refraining from violence. I assured the
president that I would make these points in Baku [Azerbaijan]."
Warning that a worsening Azeri-Armenian conflict could spark wider
problems in the region, Clinton said that the US, in tandem with
Russia and France, would seek to mediate peace.
After visiting with top government officials in Armenia on Monday,
Clinton is spending Tuesday in Georgia. On Wednesday, the secretary
will journey to Azerbaijan.