Karabakh will ask Armenia and the world's recognition if Azerbaijan violates ceasefire

PanARMENIAN.Net - Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan has said he will ask Armenia and all countries of the world to recognize Artsakh (Karabakh), if Azerbaijan fails to fulfill commitments under a humanitarian ceasefire agreement reached on October 9.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, October 11, Harutyunyan said Artsakh cannot accept conditions from a country whose goal is to eradicate the people, the millennial culture and history of Karabakh's Armenians.

According to him, he will appeal to the world to recognize his country's independence if he doesn't see Azerbaijan's readiness for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in the next one or two days.

"We'll have a list of all the countries that respect human rights, international law, the right of nations to self-determination, and another one with countries that support international terrorism," Harutyunyan said.

The shelling of Stepanakert and other settlements throughout the night showed that the humanitarian ceasefire is not working, though he said the situation is relatively calm in the morning.

Harutyunyan said if the ceasefire agreement is not honored in the coming days, it will mean Azerbaijan will accept a ceasefire only when forced by long-term heavy losses.

"They want a long war, they have chosen that path, we will not reject a war that has been imposed on us," he added.

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey, launched a large-scale offensive against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27, shelling Armenian positions and civilian settlements with large caliber weapons and rocket systems. Armenia and Karabakh have introduced martial law and total mobilization. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. International and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages, as well as the iconic Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi. Before a humanitarian ceasefire could begin on October 10, Azerbaijan launched a new offensive and struck settlements both in Karabakh and Armenia.