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'DOWNING' OF HELICOPTER INCREASES TENSIONS BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA
Journal of Turkish Weekly
Nov 19 2014
19 November 2014
JTW News Analysis, Nigar Shiralizade
The downing of an Armenian military helicopter by Azerbaijani forces
has ignited a flare-up in the longstanding conflict between the two
neighboring states over Nagorno-Karabakh.
According to an official statement on the incident issued by
Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense: "On November 12 Mi-24 combat
helicopters attempted to attack positions of the Azerbaijani army
near Karabakh's Agdam district. The helicopter has been shot down by
the Azerbaijani army."
The separatist government of Nagorno-Karabakh confirmed the downing
and announced the deaths of the 3 crew members onboard the helicopter.
It also stated that the helicopter was 'conducting training' and
that it had no offensive military mission. Spokesman of the Armenian
Ministry of Defense Artsrun Hovhannisyan exhibited a threatening
tone, warning Azerbaijan that "Consequences for this unprecedented
aggravation of the situation will be very painful for the Azeri side."
According to Interfax News Agency, Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign
Affairs published a report on November 13, 2014 stating: "Azerbaijan
has declared a no-fly zone throughout the occupied territories
and issued a standard notice for all members of the International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The illegal penetration of
Azerbaijan's airspace by Armenian military helicopters is an act of
ongoing occupation and aggression against Azerbaijan and a policy of
encroachment on territorial integrity and sovereignty of the republic."
Reactions from the outside
International reactions appeared in the media immediately after the
accident, mostly basing their information on scarce data taken from
various sources, thus the messages mostly expressed anxiety over
intensification of the conflict. U.S. State Department Spokeswoman
Jen Psaki said that the incident is a reminder of the need to reduce
tensions and respect a cease-fire in the region, adding that the U.S.
deems military solution to the conflict unacceptable.
In a meeting with journalists on 17 November, 2014, Turkey's Ambassador
to Azerbaijan Ismail Alper Joshgun commented that "We should question
firstly why Azerbaijani lands are still under occupation. Thus this
accident reminds us about the necessity to reach a peaceful solution to
the conflict as soon as possible. Moreover, it should not be forgotten
that Turkey will always support Azerbaijan."
Russia's attitude was expressed by the Russian Foreign Ministry's
Spokesman Alexander Lukashevich, who stated on November 13, 2014,
that "Russia calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to curtail moves which
could lead to the escalation of tensions."
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said it was essential that
the parties exercise restraint and avoid any actions or statements
that could worsen the circumstances in the region, while also stressing
the importance of an inquiry into the incident.
NATO Liaison Officer for the South Caucasus William Lahue told
reporters: "NATO would like to see the parties engaged in peaceful
negotiations and discussions to resolve this conflict within the OSCE
Minsk Group format."
Co-chairs of the OSCE also released statements expressing
their concerns about the incident on the border and stressed the
undesirability of another conflict in the region: "Today's events
remind us of the volatility of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and
the urgency to intensify efforts to find a lasting settlement. We
remain resolved to assist the sides in any way possible." Moreover,
they called on the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia to work within
the framework of commitments laid out in the Sochi, Newport and Paris
meetings held 3 months ago after increasing tensions on the front
line in the summer of 2014.
What happened in Nagorno-Karabakh?
The conflict started in 1988, lasted 6 years and a ceasefire
established in 1994 ended the bloody war over Nagorno-Karabakh region
which cost 30,000 lives.
Azerbaijan, which suffered the consequences of the war more than
Armenia with 1.2 million refugees and internally displaced persons,
the loss of 17 thousand sq. km of land and approximately 22,000
casualties, proclaimed its desire to resolve the problem in a peaceful
way on several occasions. Here, it has stressed the maintenance of
territorial integrity and the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and 7
surrounding regions from occupation as of the utmost importance.
Four UN Security Council Resolutions (822, 853, 874, 884) which have
required the immediate withdrawal of Armenian forces from Azerbaijani
lands have never been implemented. The OSCE Minsk group could not
efficiently assist in settling the conflict, and accordingly, 20 years
after the cease fire, tit for tat diplomacy has increasingly gained
prominence between the two states, thus necessitating the need for
a solution to the conflict as soon as possible.
19 November 2014
http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/175738/-downing-of-helicopter-increases-tensions-between-azerbaijan-and-armenia.html
Journal of Turkish Weekly
Nov 19 2014
19 November 2014
JTW News Analysis, Nigar Shiralizade
The downing of an Armenian military helicopter by Azerbaijani forces
has ignited a flare-up in the longstanding conflict between the two
neighboring states over Nagorno-Karabakh.
According to an official statement on the incident issued by
Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense: "On November 12 Mi-24 combat
helicopters attempted to attack positions of the Azerbaijani army
near Karabakh's Agdam district. The helicopter has been shot down by
the Azerbaijani army."
The separatist government of Nagorno-Karabakh confirmed the downing
and announced the deaths of the 3 crew members onboard the helicopter.
It also stated that the helicopter was 'conducting training' and
that it had no offensive military mission. Spokesman of the Armenian
Ministry of Defense Artsrun Hovhannisyan exhibited a threatening
tone, warning Azerbaijan that "Consequences for this unprecedented
aggravation of the situation will be very painful for the Azeri side."
According to Interfax News Agency, Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign
Affairs published a report on November 13, 2014 stating: "Azerbaijan
has declared a no-fly zone throughout the occupied territories
and issued a standard notice for all members of the International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The illegal penetration of
Azerbaijan's airspace by Armenian military helicopters is an act of
ongoing occupation and aggression against Azerbaijan and a policy of
encroachment on territorial integrity and sovereignty of the republic."
Reactions from the outside
International reactions appeared in the media immediately after the
accident, mostly basing their information on scarce data taken from
various sources, thus the messages mostly expressed anxiety over
intensification of the conflict. U.S. State Department Spokeswoman
Jen Psaki said that the incident is a reminder of the need to reduce
tensions and respect a cease-fire in the region, adding that the U.S.
deems military solution to the conflict unacceptable.
In a meeting with journalists on 17 November, 2014, Turkey's Ambassador
to Azerbaijan Ismail Alper Joshgun commented that "We should question
firstly why Azerbaijani lands are still under occupation. Thus this
accident reminds us about the necessity to reach a peaceful solution to
the conflict as soon as possible. Moreover, it should not be forgotten
that Turkey will always support Azerbaijan."
Russia's attitude was expressed by the Russian Foreign Ministry's
Spokesman Alexander Lukashevich, who stated on November 13, 2014,
that "Russia calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to curtail moves which
could lead to the escalation of tensions."
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said it was essential that
the parties exercise restraint and avoid any actions or statements
that could worsen the circumstances in the region, while also stressing
the importance of an inquiry into the incident.
NATO Liaison Officer for the South Caucasus William Lahue told
reporters: "NATO would like to see the parties engaged in peaceful
negotiations and discussions to resolve this conflict within the OSCE
Minsk Group format."
Co-chairs of the OSCE also released statements expressing
their concerns about the incident on the border and stressed the
undesirability of another conflict in the region: "Today's events
remind us of the volatility of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and
the urgency to intensify efforts to find a lasting settlement. We
remain resolved to assist the sides in any way possible." Moreover,
they called on the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia to work within
the framework of commitments laid out in the Sochi, Newport and Paris
meetings held 3 months ago after increasing tensions on the front
line in the summer of 2014.
What happened in Nagorno-Karabakh?
The conflict started in 1988, lasted 6 years and a ceasefire
established in 1994 ended the bloody war over Nagorno-Karabakh region
which cost 30,000 lives.
Azerbaijan, which suffered the consequences of the war more than
Armenia with 1.2 million refugees and internally displaced persons,
the loss of 17 thousand sq. km of land and approximately 22,000
casualties, proclaimed its desire to resolve the problem in a peaceful
way on several occasions. Here, it has stressed the maintenance of
territorial integrity and the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and 7
surrounding regions from occupation as of the utmost importance.
Four UN Security Council Resolutions (822, 853, 874, 884) which have
required the immediate withdrawal of Armenian forces from Azerbaijani
lands have never been implemented. The OSCE Minsk group could not
efficiently assist in settling the conflict, and accordingly, 20 years
after the cease fire, tit for tat diplomacy has increasingly gained
prominence between the two states, thus necessitating the need for
a solution to the conflict as soon as possible.
19 November 2014
http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/175738/-downing-of-helicopter-increases-tensions-between-azerbaijan-and-armenia.html