Iran says ready to help establish peace in Karabakh, urges Azerbaijan, Armenia to exercise restraint
Iran says it is ready to help establish sustainable peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Karabakh, urging both sides to the conflict to respect internationally recognized borders.
In a statement on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh voiced concern about the continuation of border clashes between Azeri and Armenian forces and stressed the need for both sides to observe restraint and resolve their border disputes peacefully.
Khatibzadeh also regretted the killing and injuring of individuals from Azerbaijan and Armenia during the latest clashes, after which both sides accused each other of escalating the situation.
On Wednesday, three Armenian troops were killed and two wounded in border clashes with Azerbaijani forces.
Armenia to ask for Russian military deployment on common border
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday that he would ask for the deployment of Russian border forces at the common border with Azerbaijan to prevent further escalation after the latest clashes.
“I think it makes sense to consider the question of stationing outposts of Russian border guards along the entire stretch of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border,” Pashinyan said, addressing a cabinet meeting.
He said the move will help the two sides “carry out work on demarcation and delimitation of the border without the risk of military clashes.”
“We are planning to discuss the matter with our Russian colleagues.”
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman has refused to comment on Pashinyan’s planned proposal.
“Contacts with Yerevan are continuing, I have nothing more to say,” Dmitry Peskov told reporters, noting that Russia was involved in efforts to calm new tensions between the two neighboring countries.
“Work is continuing to ensure the full implementation of the bilateral agreements,” he said.
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