Pashinyan, Putin phone talks expected soon

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is expected to hold telephone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday, September 20, minutes after the authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh agreed to all of Azerbaijan’s demands, including the dissolution of the Defense Army.

Peskov said no talks are currently scheduled with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

The Kremlin spokesperson also weighed in on Azerbaijan’s military actions in Nagorno-Karabakh, claiming that “de jure it’s Baku’s actions on its territory.”

He then went on to say that Moscow does not accept Armenia’s reproaches regarding over Karabakh, saying that they were “groundless”.

The authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh earlier agreed to all of Azerbaijan’s conditions, including the dissolution of the Defense Army, according to a statement from the Karabakh President’s office.

“Through the mediation of the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh, an agreement was reached on a complete cessation of hostilities from 13:00 on September 20, 2023,” the statement says.

“An agreement was reached on the withdrawal of the remaining units and military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia from the deployment zone of the Russian peacekeeping contingent and the disbandment and complete disarmament of the armed formations of the “Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army” and the withdrawal of heavy equipment and weapons from the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh with the aim of their speedy disposal.”

The statement added that issues raised by the Azerbaijani side on the “reintegration, ensuring the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as issues of ensuring the livelihoods of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh within the framework of the Constitution of Azerbaijan, according to the agreement reached, will be discussed at a meeting between representatives of the local Armenian population and representatives of the central authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which will take place in the city of Yevlakh on September 21, 2023, as well during subsequent meetings.