Nagorno-Karabakh conflict flared up

Il Corriere della Sera reports over two hundred fatalities in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both nations blame each other for the death toll. The conflict has escalated during the past week, and now involves trench bombing as well as long-range missiles. Russia and Turkey back opposing camps, the former supporting the Armenians and the latter the Azerbaijanis. Russian-made Armenian rockets rain down on Ganja, the second largest city in Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijanis are shooting with Turkish drones. The Red Cross has condemned the bombing of civilians on both sides. Hospitals, homes, schools, markets, gas pipes, and water and telephone networks have been destroyed.

Trouw says that the EU must play a role and must help restore peace in the region. Decades after the Nagorno-Karabakh War, the conflict has been renewed, with rockets being shot from either side. In 1994, Armenia and Azerbaijan concluded a ceasefire, but it never came to a peace agreement. Again, Russia and Turkey are being called upon to bring the warring parties to the table. For now, however, weapons are being supplied by Turkey to Azerbaijan, and by Russia to Armenia. Although both countries adhere to different religions - Armenia is Christian Orthodox and Azerbaijan is Muslim - the conflict appears to be ethno-culturally rather than religiously inspired. The EU could play a role by prompting Turkey and Russia (with or without sanctions) to restore peace in the region. 

Pravda writes about the relationship between the South Caucasus, Nagorno-Karabakh, and the European Union. Last week, after the European Council Summit, EU leaders called upon both Armenia and Azerbaijan to cease hostilities immediately. Both countries are accused of shelling civilian targets. However, “the position of the EU is quite weak” to make these countries negotiate with each other, said Ján Cingel from Strategic Analysis, since joining the EU is currently not a priority for Armenia and Azerbaijan. This differs from countries in the Western Balkans, where Europe has significant political influence because, as said by Cingel, “it can play its enlargement card.” Even though external actors are involved as well, for instance Turkey’s increasing support for Azerbaijan, not enough attention has been paid to this conflict: Russia is occupied with Belarus, Europe is dealing with a pandemic, and the United States have an election coming up.

Kurier reports on an interview held between the newspaper ‘Bild’ and Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia. According to Pashinyan, a lot is at stake for Europe in this conflict and if the international community fails to take the geopolitical consequences seriously, Erdogan could upset an already delicate balance of power in Europe. Moreover, he accuses Turkish President Erdogan of an imperialist policy by pointing to Turkey’s involvement in Syria, Libya, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Iraq. Angela Merkel has spoken with Pashinyan and expressed her concern about the escalation and demanded that all sides immediately stop the fighting and start negotiating. The self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, which is mostly inhabited by Armenians, is not internationally recognized and is considered part of Azerbaijan under international law.