Pompeo | Turkey intensifies dangers in Nagorno-Karabakh by supplying arms to Azerbaijan

Defence Redefined

16/10/2020

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said in an interview that Turkey is increasing the risk in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by supplying weapons to Azerbaijan, reiterating his call for a ceasefire.

“It is dangerous. We now have the Turks, who have stepped in and provided resources to Azerbaijan, increasing the risk, increasing the firepower that’s taking place in this historic fight over this place called Nagorno-Karabakh, a small territory with about 150,000 people,” states Pompeo.

The US diplomat stressed that the long-lasting conflict should be resolved only through peaceful talks, not through armed conflict, “and certainly not with third countries coming to supply arms and ammunition.”

He also expressed his hope that Armenia would be able to “defend” itself against Azerbaijan, a statement that could be interpreted as support for one of the two sides in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in which, however, the United States has a mediating role.

“We hope that the Armenians will be able to defend themselves against what the Azeris are doing,” the US diplomat told a local Georgia radio station. Pompeo did not specify whether he was in favor of Armenia, saying only that a ceasefire should be respected and that “peaceful talks” should be held to end the conflict.

On Wednesday, the US Secretary of State expressed regret over Turkey’s “support of Azerbaijan” and called on all countries not to intervene in the region so as not to escalate tensions. The United States, along with France and Russia, is co-chairing the Minsk Group, which was formed about 30 years ago to find a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Source: CNA

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