In the last four years, at least 16 civilians and soldiers have been killed in the clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The two former Soviet Republics already fought a six-year war over the region until a truce was reached in 1994, but they repeatedly accused each other of ceasefire violations over the years. 

This time, Armenia accused Azerbaijan of carrying out air and artillery attacks over the separatist region on Sunday morning, 27 September. Tensions are rising as both States have declared martial law and Armenia even disposed of total mobilization of its military. The UN Secretary-General condemned the use of force and the harming of civilians, urging both parties to immediately de-escalate tensions and peacefully negotiate a solution to the conflict. 

The UN chief expressed his intention to speak to both the President of Azerbaijan and the Armenian Prime Minister, underling the crucial role of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chairs, which was created in 1992 with the aim of promoting the resolution of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. The Secretary-General urged both sides to closely cooperate with the OSCE Minsk Group in order to resume peaceful dialogue. 

To read more, please visit:

https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/09/1073992

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54314341

https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/nagorno-karabakh-conflict

https://www.euronews.com/2020/09/27/azerbaijan-armenia-trade-blows-over-nagorno-karabakh

Author: Margherita Curti; Editor: Matteo Consiglio