Turkey and Azerbaijan Reject Diplomacy in Nagorno-Karabakh Crisis

Oct. 2, 2020 (EIRNS)—Both Turkey and Azerbaijan have rejected diplomacy as a means of resolving the crisis over Nagorno-Karabakh in favor of a military solution. Their logic is that diplomacy since 1994 has failed to end what they characterize as an “occupation” of the enclave by Armenia and therefore, a military solution is the only option left. Both Ankara and Baku have rejected the statement made yesterday by the leaders of the OSCE Minsk Group—U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron—calling for a ceasefire and a resumption of negotiations. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Minsk Group’s calls for a ceasefire were “unacceptable,” and if they were really seeking a solution, then Armenia would have to withdraw from all the territories it had occupied and allow hundreds of thousands of Azeris displaced by the war to return, reported Al Monitor. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has ruled out any withdrawal, saying Nagorno-Karabakh is an existential matter for his nation of 3 million.

“As Turkey, we will continue to support our Azerbaijani brothers with all means and with all our heart, in line with the principle of ‘two states, one nation,’ ” Erdogan said during a speech at the opening of a legislative session of the Turkish parliament, reported Anadolu. Erdogan said again that permanent peace could only be achieved in the region “if Armenia withdraws from occupied Azerbaijani territories.”

“Efforts to slander Turkey ... also won’t be able save the Armenian administration,” Erdogan argued. He warned countries supporting “rogue state” Armenia in its occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh would “answer to the common conscience.”