U.S. State Department refuses to describe what happened in Artsakh as  ethnic cleansing until there is evidence

ArmInfo. The U.S. State Department refused to describe what happened in Artsakh as ethnic  cleansing until there is appropriate evidence.

Thus, on October 2, during a weekly briefing, U.S. State Department  Spokesperson Matthew Miller, in response to the question of whether  he agreed with the statements of the Armenian side that what is  happening in Artsakh is ethnic cleansing, taking into account the  statements of AFP, the team that was able to travel to capital of  Nagorno-Karabakh Stepanakert, and they described it as a ghost town,  in part, said:  "So we take allegations of ethnic cleansing,  genocide, or other atrocities seriously.  We are in touch with  contacts on the ground about the situation.  We won't shy from taking  appropriate actions to respond to allegations of atrocities and  promote accountability for those responsible for atrocities when we  see evidence that they've taken place.  But as always, a  determination regarding genocide or ethnic cleansing is based on a  deliberate, evidence-based process.  It's not something I can speak  to with any degree of finality from this podium." To the remark that  Artsakh has been emptied of its civilian population, Miller agreed  that this was indeed the case, and about one hundred thousand  (100,520 - ed. note) ethnic Armenians left Nagorno-Karabakh and moved  to Armenia.

" Now, we don't know - I don't think any of us can say whether - what  percentage of those plan to remain in Armenia permanently, what  percentage of them may want to come back, if the conditions allowed,  if they felt sufficient assurances about their treatment if they  would return, which is why we are reiterating our call for an  independent international monitoring mission that would provide  transparency and reassurance to the population of Nagorno-Karabakh  that the rights and securities of ethnic Armenians would be  protected, particularly for any of those that wish to return.   Azerbaijan has made those assurances.  We think there ought to be an  international monitoring mission there to observe and guarantee  them," a representative of the US State Department said.

Regarding the prospects for signing a peace agreement between Yerevan  and Baku. Miller noted "We think certainly there ought to be.  There  are other issues beyond the status of Nagorno-Karabakh that are at  dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and we would encourage them  to return to peace talks to discuss and ultimately come to resolution  on those issues," he concluded.

On September 19, Azerbaijan, under the pretext of an "anti-terrorist  operation," undertook another act of aggression against Artsakh. As a  result of enemy aggression, hundreds of Artsakh residents were  injured, more than 200 deaths were reported, including civilians, and  more than 10,000 were evacuated.

On September 20, Artsakh fell. Azerbaijan began the forcible  subjugation of the NKR.  On September 20, late in the evening it  became known that Azerbaijan had deliberately shot at the car of the  Russian peacekeeping contingent, killing 5 people, including the  deputy commander of the RPC. Today, there were reports that one  soldier was killed and another was wounded as a result of shooting at  another RPC vehicle.  

On September 21, a meeting between representatives of Baku and  Stepanakert was held in Yevlakh.  Azerbaijan demanded the disarmament  of the Artsakh Defense Army, the surrender of all military personnel  and the abolition of all government bodies.

On September 22, the process of abolishing the Artsakh Defense Army  began. There are reports that the enemy side exterminated the  population of the villages captured on September 19-20. During search  operations from September 21 to 24, the NKR Ministry of Internal  Affairs discovered the bodies of 105 Artsakh residents, including  brutally murdered children and elderly people.

On October 1, the last car with Artsakh people left the homeland.  Thus, over the past week, 100.514 people were forcibly expelled from  their land.

On September 25 it also became known that Artsakh was connected to  the energy system of Azerbaijan.  Protests demanding the resignation  of the RA Prime Minister continue in Yerevan and regions.  We add  that as a result of the explosion that took place in the fuel depot  near Stepanakert on September 25, according to preliminary data, more  than 290 people were injured, 170 more died, there are still missing  people.   

The EU stated that it would allocate an additional 5 million euros to  assist internally displaced people from Artsakh.  Earlier, USAID  Administrator Samantha Power, who is on a visit to Armenia, said that  "the United States will provide Armenia with support in the amount of  $11.5 million for the humanitarian needs of people displaced from  Nagorno- Karabakh." In addition, as ArmInfo previously reported with  reference to the Swedish Ambassador to Armenia, Sweden, through the  Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA),  allocated 15 million Swedish kronor to the International Committee of  the Red Cross to meet the humanitarian needs of the population of  Nagorno- Karabakh.  France promised to allocate another 7 million  euros.  Germany announced an increase in subsidies to the ICRC from 2  to 5 million euros, to direct them to humanitarian needs of the  Armenians of Nagorno- Karabakh.  Another 1 million euros will be  provided by Spain, $2.5 million by Canada, and 1.3 million pounds  sterling by the UK. A number of other countries have also announced  their intention to send humanitarian aid to the expelled people of  Artsakh.