On April 1-7, 2016, the large-scale military actions by the Azerbaijani armed forces along the entire contact line and the response actions by Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army resulted in over hundred of casualties: war victims and missing persons of conflict parties. The resumption of hostilities was preceded by the unprecedented arms race in the conflict area within the past three or four years openly and publicly supported by the Russian authorities.

By pursuing such policy, the authorities of the Russian Federation, an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair State, violated the very essence of the principle of peaceful settlement and non-use of force, one of the three key principles of conflict settlement. In fact, the inadequate actions of a Co-Chair State, namely Russian Federation, posed a serious threat to the efforts undertaken for many years by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs towards the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

We have repeatedly reiterated before the international community and the conflicting parties our concerns over the arms race and breach of the principles and standards of OSCE Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces.

Despite the war victims, missing persons and prisoners of war as a result of the hostilities of April 1-7, 2016, the official representatives of the Russian Federation still issue statements on selling and supplying armaments to the conflicting parties. Such an unprecedented and irresponsible behavior to the destiny and security of people should arouse serious concern of the international community and international organizations.

The Russian Federation does not give up its actions aimed at promoting the arms race and raising the level of militarization, which will inevitably result in further escalation of the tension, resumed hostilities and more victims in the conflict area.

Given that the developments pose a threat to the fundamental human rights and the right to peace of the people in the region, we believe that the international community, represented by the UN, OSCE, CoE and EU, is under obligation to take urgent measures to prevent unpredictable developments.

By this statement, we condemn the inadequate and irresponsible behavior of the Russian authorities and urge the international organizations, UN, Council of Europe and OSCE, to take immediate measures to put the issue of sale of armaments by Russian Federation in the conflict area on the international agenda as well as to condemn and prevent it.

The Statement is open for signature. 

Those interested can send their data to the email below: [email protected]

 HCA Vanadzor

April 8, 2016

http://hcav.am/en/events/8-4-16-45678-en/