Armenian President Armen Sarkisyan said the international community needs to do more to stop interference in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by Turkey, which, he said, is creating "another Syria in the Caucasus," the Financial Times wrote.
"If we don't act internationally now, stopping Turkey ... with the prospect of this region becoming a new Syria ... then everyone will suffer," he told the newspaper.
According to him, "the moment Turkey comes out of this equation," the region will be closer to a truce and a return to the negotiating table. Sargsyan warned that the possibility of the presence of foreign fighters in the region after the end of the fighting is "a threat not only for Armenia but for the entire Caucasus, a threat for Russia". According to him, "they could have a serious impact on Central Asian countries and a serious impact on northern Iran.
Battles on the line of contact in Karabakh began on September 27. Armenia and Azerbaijan accuse each other of unleashing military operations; Karabakh reports about artillery shelling of peaceful settlements of unrecognized republic including its capital Stepanakert. Armenia has declared martial law and - for the first time - general mobilization, arguing that Ankara actively supports Baku. Azerbaijan has introduced partial mobilization and martial law in some places.
The leaders of Russia, the United States and France called on the confronting sides to stop fighting and commit to starting negotiations without preconditions. Turkey said it would provide any support requested to Azerbaijan as the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh escalates again.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of Armenia
Based on materials from TASS