YEREVAN, November 26. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan had a telephone conversation with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on November 25, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported.
It said the UN Secretary General congratulated Ayvazyan on taking office and wished him success in his responsible mission.
The two men were said to have discussed the humanitarian situation in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), emerged as a result of the Turkish-Azerbaijani aggression, and its consequences for the region. They touched upon the humanitarian crisis and the steps taken to overcome it.
In this regard, Ayvazyan emphasized the importance of involving international structures on the ground, first of all, the relevant UN bodies.
The Armenian Foreign Minister stressed the need to ensure conditions for the return of displaced Artsakh Armenians and steps aimed at protecting their rights.
Ayvazyan provided Guterres with relevant information about torture and other types of violence used against Armenian prisoners of war and civilians captured by Azerbaijani armed forces.
The parties emphasized strict observance of international humanitarian law and human rights law, as well as respect for the historical and cultural heritage of Artsakh.
From September 27 to November 9, Azerbaijani armed forces, backed by Turkey and foreign mercenaries and terrorists, attacked Nagorno-Karabakh along the entire front line using rocket and artillery weapons, heavy armored vehicles, military aircraft and prohibited types of weapons such as cluster bombs and phosphorus weapons.
On November 9, the leaders of the Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a statement on the cessation of all hostilities in Artsakh. According to the document, the parties stopped at where they were at that time. The town of Shushi, the districts of Agdam, Kelbajar and Lachin are handed over to Azerbaijan, with the exception of a 5-kilometer corridor connecting Karabakh with Armenia.
A Russian peacekeeping contingent has been deployed along the contact line in Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor. Internally displaced persons and refugees are returning to Karabakh and adjacent regions, prisoners of war, hostages and other detained persons and bodies of the dead are being exchanged.