Azerbaijan facing no consequences for Karabakh violence: Senator

PanARMENIAN.Net - The time has come for Azerbaijan to face consequences from the United States and the international community for its blatant military aggression against the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR), U.S. Senator Mark Kirk said in an article on The Hill.

“With no system to referee the ceasefire, Azerbaijan has become increasingly belligerent while facing no consequences for its violations. This must change,” Kirk said.

“In order for a lasting peace to be established, there must be goodwill and trust on both sides. But, while both Armenia and the NKR have affirmed their support for peace-building measures, Azerbaijan has not. In truth, the lack of oversight on the current ceasefire framework provides useful cover for Azerbaijan’s belligerence.”

“U.S leadership is needed now to stop the bloody pattern in which Azerbaijan attacks the NKR, the NKR responds, and then Azerbaijan blames the Armenians for violating the cease-fire. We should no longer accept Baku’s flagrant duplicity,” Kirk added.

In the article, the Senator calls upon the administration to raise the Royce-Engel proposals to the highest levels of the Azerbaijani government.

“Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has faced a chorus of international criticism for human rights abuses, such as the wrongful imprisonment of Radio Free Europe journalist Khadija Ismayilova and some 20 others who have been prosecuted on politically motivated charges, according to Human Rights Watch,” he said.

“The onus is on Azerbaijan to demonstrate to the U.S. and the international community that it truly wants to be a partner in peace with Armenia and the NKR. Baku must fully commit to the Royce-Engel proposals.”