HyeOctane

Azeri forces, once again, violated ceasefire provisions and attempted to take the positions of Armenian soldiers along the border with Nagorno-Karabakh yesterday. According to Armenian officials, the skirmishes were heavier than usual, resulting in the death of eight Azeri soldiers and the wounding of two Armenian servicemen.

While the Armenian side has appealed to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to step in with a crisis-monitoring group to maintain peace in the region, Azerbaijan’s president is busy with the usual saber rattling. He stated Azerbaijan’s conviction that the “force factor remains decisive” and can be used to pressure Armenians into giving up power over Nagorno-Karabakh.

At the same time, Azerbaijan’s parliament decided to withdraw its 33-person peacekeeping team from Kosovo following its declaration of independence from Serbia. Azeri authorities have refused to recognize Kosovo’s independence and fear that it will serve as a precedent for international recognition of Karabakh’s right to self-determination.