Aliyev named a condition for ending the “anti-terrorist” operation in Karabakh

Baku will stop “anti-terrorist measures” in Nagorno-Karabakh if ​​the Armenian military lay down their arms. About it stated Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“Head of State [Ильхам Алиев] stated that anti-terrorist measures would be stopped if the weapons were laid down,” the statement said.

Aliyev explained to Blinken that Azerbaijan had launched “local anti-terrorism measures” to prevent provocations from Yerevan. In particular, he mentioned the installation of mines by Armenian reconnaissance and sabotage groups in Nagorno-Karabakh, shelling of the Azerbaijani military in the region and the holding of presidential elections in the unrecognized republic on September 9. The President of Azerbaijan emphasized that Baku only attacks military targets.

Blinken expressed concern about the situation and called for a ceasefire and dialogue. By information On the American side, during a telephone conversation, Aliyev announced his readiness to stop hostilities and hold a meeting between representatives of Azerbaijan and the population of Nagorno-Karabakh.

On September 19, Azerbaijan began “anti-terrorist measures” in Nagorno-Karabakh to “restorate the constitutional order” of the republic. Yerevan called Baku’s actions “large-scale aggression” and appealed to the UN Security Council. Meeting on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh will pass September 21.

On the same day, Blinken had a telephone conversation with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. He emphasizedthat the United States supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Armenia. According to the Armenian side, Pashinyan and Blinken noted the inadmissibility of the use of force and the need for de-escalation.

Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov statedthat Moscow sees the possibility of entering into peaceful negotiations to resolve the conflict. Russian Foreign Ministry called parties to the conflict around Nagorno-Karabakh “immediately stop the bloodshed” and return to the implementation of trilateral agreements.