Yerevan: The comprehensive settlement of the Karabakh conflict  presumes the determination of the status of Artsakh

ArmInfo.The Azerbaijani authorities not only continue their hostile policy towards the people of Artsakh, but also rename Armenian settlements in the territories  fallen under their control, destroy and desecrate religious  sanctuaries and cultural heritage. This is stated in the statement of  the RA MFA on the occasion of the anniversary of Azerbaijan's  aggression against Artsakh.

As reported by the RA MFA press service, the RA MFA in its message  particularly notes:  "On September 27, 2020, Azerbaijan, with the  direct support and involvement of Turkey and with the participation  of foreign terrorist fighters from the Middle East, unleashed a  large-scale war against the Republic of Artsakh with the aim of  depriving the people of Artsakh of the right to live free and secure  in their homeland and master their own destiny.

Today we bow and pay tribute to the memory of our heroes of all  Artsakh wars, who fell for the cause of freedom and in protection of  dignity and the right to life of their compatriots.

The 44-day war, launched on September 27, was accompanied by  large-scale violations of international humanitarian and human rights  law, war crimes and other mass atrocities by Azerbaijan. During the  hostilities, the armed forces of Azerbaijan deliberately targeted  civilian infrastructure and peaceful settlements, including the  capital Stepanakert, with artillery and air strikes, including with  prohibited weapons, which resulted in civilian casualties and  destruction. The committed mass crimes were thoroughly documented and  presented to international organizations and specialized  international bodies. The works in this direction will continue in  various international platforms.

The 44-day war was a pre-planned and prepared military aggression  aimed at removing the Nagorno-Karabakh issue from international  agenda through use of force and annihilation of the Armenian  population. This is evidenced by the actions of Azerbaijan in the  pre-war period, as well as the policy adopted by Azerbaijan following  the war. The Armenophobic policy and the consistent threats of use of  force pursued by the leadership of Azerbaijan for years, the  rejection of proposals by the international mediators to resolve the  conflict and strengthen the ceasefire, systematic and regular  ceasefire violations, excessive accumulation of weaponry in violation  of international obligations and periodic offensive military drills  along the line of contact, refusal to join the UN Secretary-General's  call for a global ceasefire, as well as post-war statements denying  the very existence of Nagorno-Karabakh, demonstrate that Azerbaijan  has never been interested in a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Azerbaijan has been consistently hindering the efforts of the  international community, in particular the countries of the OSCE  Minsk Group Co-Chairs, to establish a humanitarian ceasefire, as a  result of which the three ceasefires agreed at the Ministerial level  on the initiative of Russia, France and the United States were not  implemented. The Trilateral Statement on the ceasefire established on  the initiative of the President of Russia on November 9, followed by  the entry of Russian peacekeepers into Nagorno-Karabakh, halted the  Azerbaijani aggression and created conditions for ensuring the  comprehensive security of the population in Artsakh.  As a result of  the Azerbaijani-Turkish aggression unleashed against Artsakh, the  Armenians of Artsakh encountered numerous humanitarian issues: more  than 90 thousand Armenians of Artsakh were forced to leave their  permanent residences, the majority of whom have currently returned to  Artsakh. More than 40,000 people were deprived of their homes and  property, vital infrastructure was destroyed, including schools and  hospitals. In this regard, the Republic of Armenia attaches great  importance to the unimpeded access of international humanitarian  organizations and other specialized bodies into Artsakh, which is of  vital importance in the context of a comprehensive and effective  solution to the humanitarian crisis resulting from the war.  After  around a year Azerbaijan is still holding a number of Armenian  prisoners of war and captured civilians as hostages violating its  obligations undertaken by both the November 9 Trilateral Statement  and international humanitarian law.

The Azerbaijani authorities not only continue their hostile policy  towards the people of Artsakh, but also rename Armenian settlements  in the territories fallen under their control, destroy and desecrate  religious sanctuaries and cultural heritage. These actions and the  complete ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population once again  reveal the fact that the guarantee of physical security and the right  to life of the Armenians of Artsakh is impossible under the  jurisdiction of Azerbaijan.

The realities shaped on the basis of the use of force, mass  violations of human rights, as well as the consistent actions of  similar nature by Azerbaijan following the war, can not create a  sustainable foundation for regional peace and security. The  comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict  presume the determination of the status of Artsakh taking into  account the realization of the inalienable right to self-  determination, ensuring of the security of the people of Artsakh,  safe and dignified return of the displaced population to their  settlements throughout Nagorno-Karabakh, preservation of Armenian  cultural and religious heritage in the territories fallen under the  Azerbaijani control.

Only the agreements reached within the framework of the peace process  can open a new page for peace, security and development in the  region.

The Republic of Armenia stands for the full-fledged launch of the  peace process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the framework  and mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. At the same  time, the urgent settlement of humanitarian issues, including the  repatriation of all prisoners of war, captured civilians and  addressing of the cases of enforced disappearances is of utmost  importance.

Armenia will consistently stand for the restoration and protection of  the rights of the people of Artsakh and make every effort to reach a  just, comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh  conflict, guarantee the right of the Armenians of Artsakh to free and  safe life with dignity in their homeland.