On the 18th local time, in an interview with the media, the Russian President disclosed more details of the mediation of the Naqqa conflict and expressed his views on the situation in Naqqa. Putin emphasized that the agreement reached by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia on the 9th stopped the bloody clashes in the Naka region.
Putin believes that as long as the status quo remains unchanged, the status of the Naka region will be determined in the future. Putin said that it takes time for the Naka region to return to a peaceful life. The wounds of the war are far from healed, but the ceasefire agreement makes it possible to normalize the situation in the future.
When talking about Turkey’s role in the Naka conflict, Putin stated that Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan is a geopolitical consequence of the disintegration of the Soviet Union, and Azerbaijan has the right to choose its approved allies. Putin said that the outside world can make any assessment of Turkey on the Naqqa issue, but cannot accuse it of violating international law.
Putin believes that the Turkish leader knows that the presence of the country’s soldiers on the line of contact in the Naka area will be considered a direct provocation.
In the interview that day, Putin disclosed more details of conflict mediation. Putin introduced that from October 19th to 20th, the parties had basically reached a ceasefire agreement, but ultimately failed.
Putin emphasized that the agreement on the ceasefire in the Naqqa region was drawn up within a day, and the parties debated every phrase and comma in the agreement. If the current agreement can be reached as soon as possible, war can be avoided.
The Naka region is located in southwestern Azerbaijan, and its residents are mostly Armenians. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, war broke out between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the ownership of the Naka region.
In 1994, the two sides reached an agreement on a comprehensive ceasefire, but the two countries have been in a state of hostility due to the Naka issue, and armed conflicts have occurred from time to time. On September 27 this year, a new round of conflict broke out in Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Naka issue.
In October, the two countries reached a ceasefire agreement three times under the mediation of relevant countries. But after the ceasefire agreement came into effect, both sides accused the other of violating the agreement to launch attacks.
On November 9th, the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a joint declaration of ceasefire in the Naka region. According to the statement announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Naka region will ceasefire on November 10.
Azerbaijan and Armenia should stay in their current positions and exchange prisoners of war. Russian peacekeepers will be stationed in the Naka region.
