Armenian forces violate cease-fire in Nagorno-Karabakh, kill 1 Azerbaijani soldier

Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said on Monday that one soldier had been killed in an attack in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, in violation of the cease-fire struck in November that ended 44 days of fighting.

The ministry statement said the incident occurred on Sunday in the Khojavend region when a group of six Armenians launched an attack on units of the Azerbaijan army in the direction of Aghdam village. One soldier was killed while another one was wounded and evacuated to a medical institution after receiving first aid, the ministry said.

The ministry added that as a result of the actions taken, all six members of the illegal Armenian armed group were killed. The ministry warned if a similar case happens again, the Azerbaijan army will take the necessary measures.

This is the second violation of the cease-fire in the region as four other Azerbaijani soldiers were killed two weeks ago when their units were attacked in areas adjacent to the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Later in the day, Turkey's Foreign Ministry condemned the Armenian attacks as a clear violation of the cease-fire deal signed last month.

Reminding that Armenia, as a part of the deal, has the responsibility to stop attacks, Ankara said Azerbaijan used its right of self-defense against these provocations.

Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but was under the occupation of Armenian forces since a war there ended in 1994. That war left Nagorno-Karabakh itself and substantial surrounding territory in Armenian hands.

In 44 days of fighting that began in late September and left more than 5,600 people killed on both sides, the Azerbaijani army pushed deep into Nagorno-Karabakh, forcing Armenia to accept last month's peace deal that saw Azerbaijan reclaim much of the region along with surrounding areas. Russia deployed nearly 2,000 peacekeepers for at least five years to monitor the peace deal and to facilitate the return of refugees.

Under the agreement, which leaves Karabakh's future political status in limbo, Armenia lost control of parts of the enclave as well as the seven adjacent districts that it seized during the 1990s war.

The deal has sparked celebrations in Azerbaijan and fury in Armenia, where the country's prime minister, Nikol Pashinian, is facing mounting criticism for agreeing to the deal.

The Armenian opposition last week urged Pashinian to quit over the country's embarrassing defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Speaking on the occasion, Vazgen Manuktan, the opposition's prime ministerial candidate, urged law enforcers to join the protesters that took to the streets.

They chanted slogans accusing the prime minister of being a "traitor" and demanded that he step down as police took security measures.

While opposition supporters have rallied for weeks, Armenia's prime minister said Friday he was ready to discuss the possibility of holding an early parliamentary election but rejected opposition demands to step down.

Yet, Ishkhan Sagatelyan, a leader of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation party, wrote on Facebook on Saturday that the prime minister's election offer "is unacceptable."

"There is only one way: The traitor must go."

Yerevan must normalize ties with Baku, Ankara

“Armenia must normalize relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey, or else it will have to pack its bags and move somewhere,” said Zhirair Liparitian, an adviser to Armenia’s first president stated Sunday.

Speaking to American Observer, Liparitian argued that Yerevan needs a government that does not view its neighbors as enemies.

“Armenia should normalize ties with everyone, because, ultimately, this ensures security. If the current attitude remains, hatred and fear will prevail. If these two main emotions are not analyzed, they will become the basis of Armenia’s strategy. Now fear remains a part of Armenian political thought,” he said.

Stressing that it is necessary “to establish relations with neighbors, to speak directly with Azerbaijan and Turkey, to learn to understand the neighbors," Liparitian said that this will increase confidence.

Turkey has become a vital actor in the South Caucasus especially during its support for Azerbaijan and through the coordination of a joint observation center with Russia which will supervise the recent cease-fire agreement.

The Turkish Parliament also voted this month to deploy a mission to "establish a joint center with Russia and to carry out the center's activities."

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan similarly signaled this month the importance of cooperation with the region’s countries, including Armenia.

Speaking to members of the Turkish press accompanying him as he attended victory celebrations in the Azerbaijani capital Baku, Erdoğan commented on his proposal to form a six-country regional cooperation platform that could provide win-win opportunities for all parties.

“If Armenia joins this process and takes positive steps, a new page in the Turkey-Armenia relations can be opened. If new opportunities arise, it is obvious that Armenia will also have a serious advantage. Armenia will be the side gaining most from it.”