As it is known, Armenia has been occupying the Nagorno Karabakh and seven adjacent regions of Azerbaijan for last 28 years. Despite four UN Security Council resolutions 822, 853, 874, 884 of 1993 and an UN General Assembly resolution urging Armenia to unconditional withdrawal of its military forces and liberation of the occupied territories, as well as violation of fundamental norms and principles of international law, the international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols, Armenia keeps trying to legalize the consequences of the war and attempts to raise the international prestige of the separatist regime established by Armenia in the occupied Nagorno Karabakh region of Azerbaijan by different means. 

By constantly violating the ceasefire achieved in 1994, Armenia tries to consolidate the existing statu-quo. Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated that Armenia’s ongoing military aggression against Azerbaijan and the presence of the armed forces of this country in Azerbaijan’s territories have remained a significant threat to regional peace and security. For the last 2 years chain of provocations committed by new Government of Armenia both in words and deeds has undermined the negotiation process for the settlement of the conflict. 

Disproving whatever expectations the international community might have, the leadership of Armenia, since the very first days of assuming power, has opted to replicate annexationist policy of his predecessors, even gone further by stating “Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) is Armenia, Period”. Armenian Government has recently adopted a military doctrine and national security strategy, which envisage a concept of “new war for new territories” and define the strategic goal of this country in the negotiation process as safeguarding the outcomes of war. Last several weeks Azerbaijan has issued repeated warnings to the international community that Armenia is preparing for a new act of aggression and war. 

On September 27, 2020 the armed forces of Armenia blatantly violating the ceasefire regime launched another aggression against Azerbaijan, by intensively shelling the positions of the armed forces of Azerbaijan along the frontline using large-caliber weapons, mortar launchers and artillery. First day of Armenian attack resulted in casualties among civilians and military servicemen of Azerbaijan. Extensive damage has been inflicted on many homes and civilian infrastructure. The bombardment of densely populated civilian areas and installations situated along the front line by Armenia’s armed forces has been deliberate and targeted. In order to prevent another military aggression by Armenia and provide the security of densely populated civilian residential areas the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan undertook counter-offensive measures within the right of self-defense and in full compliance with the international law.

The new act of aggression by Armenia against Azerbaijan is the continuation of the latest provocations of the Armenian side, including the attempt to an armed attack in the direction of Tovuz region on 12-16 July, 2020, the sabotage-reconnaissance group’s provocation in the direction of Goranboy region, illegal settlement policy in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, as well as the provocative statements and activities of Armenian leadership. Being well aware of the fact that the illegal presence of the armed forces of Armenia in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions of Azerbaijan is a serious threat to regional peace and security and demonstrating the principled position based on the norms and principles of international law on the aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan and its illegal activities, the international community should strongly condemn Armenia’s policy of aggression and provocative activities against Azerbaijan and force Armenia to comply with the international law, including its commitments under the international humanitarian law. Full responsibility for the present situation falls on the political-military leadership of Armenia.