On the Nagorno-Karabakh Crisis and the War between the Republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia!

On the Nagorno-Karabakh Crisis and the War between the Republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia!

Not to Occupation, Not to War! Yes to the Implementation of the UN Resolutions!

The fire of war between our two neighboring countries, the Republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia, has flared up again, leaving more than a few hundred dead and wounded, and has imposed another catastrophic mass displacement on the inhabitants of this war zone. In this center of crisis and conflict for several decades, a new war has erupted which, like any other center of tension in the world, due to the geopolitical importance of the region, is the intersection of interests of different rival and regional and global forces and regimes. Published news indicates suspicious logistical movements and overt deployment of mercenary reinforcements by covert and overt intervenors to this war zone, which in turn complicates the situation. There is no doubt that if the war and tension continue, the people of these two countries, as well as the people of the neighboring countries, will be facing serious consequences.

The focal point of the crisis and the cause of war and conflict is the continued occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh province and several areas of the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan by Armenia and armed organizations supported by this country. The occupation of these lands, which constitute 20% of the lands of the Republic of Azerbaijan, has caused displacement and misery to several hundred thousand people in the last two or three decades. As a result of this, and as a result of the severance of relations between the two neighboring countries, the economic problems in Armenia have even intensified and have led to a wave of inevitable migration of a large part of the people of that country.

The victims of this conflict are the people of both neighboring republics, and its beneficiaries are the generally corrupt rulers and extremist nationalist circles on both sides, as well as the big regional and global powers. After the fall of the Soviet Union, all those who, with various plots and tricks, and especially igniting the fire of nationalism among the people of different regions, have tried and are trying to make this or that region a base for exerting influence against their political-economic and military rivals. Several Western governments, Russia, Turkey and the Islamic Republic of Iran are now somehow involved in perpetuating the occupation or in fueling the war. The victims of this nationalist war are the Armenian and Azerbaijani working and middle classes.

Unfortunately, despite the insistence of all countries of the world on the ownership of the Republic of Azerbaijan over the occupied territories of Nagorno-Karabakh, and despite numerous UN resolutions condemning the Armenian government, the country and its local forces refuse to withdraw from the occupied territories and their positions. International efforts, especially the “Minsk Group”, have so far failed to put an end to the crisis. However, experience and facts show that this issue has no military solution and the result of the continuation of this rebellion is the formation of neither war nor peace situation, which occasionally war should be considered an inevitable consequence of such a situation. This time, for example, the rise of the Azerbaijani government to retake the occupied territories has led to a full-scale war between the two sides.

The Left Party of Iran (People’s Fadaian) is deeply regretful and concerned about the outbreak of war between the two neighboring countries, both of which are Iran neighbors. We demand an immediate end to this military conflict, declaration of ceasefire and the return of the two sides to the negotiating table. The negotiations must bind the Armenian government to internationally recognized treaties, implement the provisions of UN resolutions, renounce occupation and respect the sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and on the other hand oblige the Republic of Azerbaijan to respect all national and humanitarian rights of the Armenian citizens of this republic without any discrimination or harassment, as the security and national rights of every Azerbaijani in Armenia must be fully observed.

At the same time, and especially given that the current tension and war are in the neighborhood of our country, we emphasize that by avoiding any adventurous and convulsive policies in this critical center, a behavior should be adopted that does not involve the country in another tension. Participation in this crisis can only be justified if it serves to resolve the crisis and bring the parties to peace.

Political-Executive Board of the Left Party of Iran (People’s Fadaian)

October 1, 2020