Naqa conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Naka region has lasted for more than a month. Although the two sides have reached a ceasefire agreement three times, sporadic fighting still occurs from time to time. On the 30th, the foreign ministers of Asia and Afghanistan held talks in Geneva and agreed to take measures to ease tensions and pledged to avoid attacks on civilians and non-military targets during the conflict.
According to reports, more than 1,000 people have died since the conflict in Naqa. On the 30th local time, representatives of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group from France, Russia and the United States urged all parties to fully implement the ceasefire agreement previously reached.
On October 20, local time, a picture released by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry that day showed that Azerbaijani artillery troops opened fire violently on targets in the Naka region.
The OSCE Minsk team issued a statement stating that the two sides of Asia and Afghanistan had “conducted an open and substantive exchange of views on the crux of the ceasefire agreement reached in Moscow on October 10 to clarify their negotiating positions.”
According to reports, although the aforementioned statement did not mention a new ceasefire commitment, the statement stated that the two sides “agreed to take urgent measures” and promised that “in accordance with international humanitarian law, they will not deliberately target civilians or non-military targets” and also agreed. “Actively participate in the search and exchange of remains on the battlefield.”
In addition, the Asian and Afghan parties also stated that they will provide the Red Cross with a list of prisoners of war currently being held within a week, “to provide access and eventually exchange.”
Armenia and Azerbaijan broke out in a new round of conflicts in the Naka region on September 27, causing casualties, including civilians. The two countries reached three ceasefire agreements on October 10, 17, and 25, but the two sides accused each other of breaking the ceasefire agreement shortly after the agreement took effect.
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 over the Naqqa issue, and armed conflicts have occurred from time to time.
