Friday, September 22 2023 10:01

ArmInfo. A senior UN official told the Security Council on Thursday that the wellbeing of civilians caught up in the long-running conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan should be the "overriding priority" following renewed  fighting, the official website of the Organization reports.

Opening an extraordinary meeting of the Security Council on  Nagorno-Karabakh Assistant Secretary General of the organization for   Europe, Central Asia and Americas in the United Nations Department of  Political Affairs Miroslav Jenca told ambassadors that Azerbaijan had  announced, in their words, "local counter-terrorism activities in the  Karabakh economic region" two days ago, in response to the tragic  deaths of two civilians and four police officers in incidents that  allegedly involved landmines placed by the Armenian military. 

He noted that Azerbaijan had notified the Russian peacekeeping force  in the region, of its activities in a bid to "prevent large scale  provocations" by Armenian troops and "ensure their withdrawal and the  restoration of the constitutional order" within internationally  recognized Azerbaijani territory.

Mr. Jenca lamented that following a "serious escalation in military  operations" across the Line of Contact between the two forces,  civilian casualties had been reported, as well as thousands evacuated  within the flashpoint region.  He stressed that the UN has no  observers in the region and was unable to verify the "various claims  and allegations."

The UN has supported the full implementation of a 9 November 2020  Trilateral Statement by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and  Russia, following the ceasefire of that year, together with efforts  to reduce tensions and advance the normalization of relations between  Baku and Yerevan.  Mr. Jenca told the Council that in light of the  2020 Statement, Secretary- General Antonio Guterres urges all  concerned to "strictly observe" the ceasefire and continue to abide  by their obligations relating to international humanitarian and human  rights law.  'Sharp exchanges': He reminded ambassadors that in  recent months the freedom of movement of local civilians and  humanitarian access along the Lachin Corridor and Aghdam road, "have  been major sources of tension and sharp exchanges".

"The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned about the impact of  the escalation on the fragile humanitarian situation and calls on the  parties to urgently facilitate unimpeded access" of relief to all  civilians, Mr. Jenca added.  He said the uptick in violence in recent  days should be viewed within a "broader pattern of ceasefire  violations which have continued to persist."

'Positive step':Assistant Secretary-General Jenca noted Wednesday's  announcement of a cessation of hostilities, cautioning that the  situation on the ground remains fluid.

"We also understand that, in a positive step, representatives of the  local population and the Government of Azerbaijan met earlier today  for an initial exchange."

He called for a "credible and durable" end to the fighting. "Any  renewed escalation would lead to further loss of life and human  suffering and further set back internationally supported peace  efforts."

Protection of civilians including their basic human rights "must be  the overriding priority."

The only sustainable way forward, he said, was through genuine  dialogue between Azerbaijan and representatives of the region,  "together with full engagement in the normalization process", the  source notes.