The world must realize what happens here: Armenia’s PM gives interview to French Le Figaro

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan speaking to French Le Figaro stated that the Armenian side has proofs of Turkey’s military assistance to Azerbaijan.

He said that Russia, France and Iran have already admitted the engagement of Turkey in wide-scale attack against Nagorno Karabakh on September 27.

Armenia’s leader said that top-level Turkish officials have publicly confirmed their support for Azerbaijan not only in political and diplomatic terms, but also on the battlefield. They are using Turkish UAVs and F-16s to bomb civilian facilities in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“They [Azerbaijan] are using Turkish UAVs and F-16s to bomb civilian facilities in Nagorno Karabakh. The international community, especially the American society, should be aware that U.S.-made F-16s are being used to kill Armenians in this conflict. There is evidence that Turkish military commanders are directly involved in the management of offensive operations. Ankara has provided Baku with military vehicles, weapons, and military advisers. We know that Turkey trained and transported thousands of mercenaries and terrorists from Turkey-controlled areas in northern Syria. Those terrorists are fighting against the Armenians today. Many of them did not even know why Turkey deployed them to Azerbaijan. They realized that they had been made false promises after arriving in Azerbaijan," he said.

Pashinyan also told the French media about narcotics being used by the terrorists a circumstance that became clear after synergies with the staff were found with them.

“We may say that 30% of losses from the Azerbaijani side are mercenaries from other countries,” he said.

As to whether Turkey is responsible for the escalation, Pashinyan said the joint Azerbaijani-Turkish military drills that started in August have not been completed yet and the offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh is actually the next phase of said exercises. He stressed that having prepared, they made the decision to launch an offensive, and they must be held responsible for this escalation.

Pashinyan said that after the unsuccessful July offensive on Armenia’s borders, Azerbaijan appealed to Turkey and it is obvious that Ankara is making decisions on many key aspects of the situation. They seek to reverse the regional balance of power in their favor.

“Turkey’s wish is to strengthen its role and influence in the South Caucasus, changing thereby the status quo that has been in place for over a century. Turkey pursues the goal of building a sultanate-like empire, and has embarked on a path that may set the region ablaze,” Pashinyan said.

Asked whether Armenia is ready for ceasefire, Armenia’s PM said that Turkey and Azerbaijan are the ones who must put an end to hostilities as they are the aggressors and at this moment they are killing Armenians.

“Nagorno Karabakh cannot put down arms as it will result in genocide. The population there is facing existential threat. In this phase the enemy is not showing any signs of ending the offenses,” he said.

Pashinyan also stressed that OSCE Minsk Group format is the only one for negotiations, adding that yesterday Russian and French presidents issued strong appeal.

“We are looking forward to international community’s active commitment to halting the aggression. Turkey cannot be a mediator for its biased and bellicose stance,” the PM said.

Pashinyan also said that this crisis is more severe than the one in April 2016.

“This crisis is much more serious. It would be more appropriate to compare it with what happened in 1915, when more than 1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered during the first genocide of the 20th century.

The Turkish state, which continues to deny the past, has once again ventured down a genocidal path. The world should be aware of what is happening here. The international community must intervene as swiftly as possible to prevent the spread of violence; otherwise the consequences of this standoff will spill over beyond the South Caucasus,” he said.