On September 27 Azerbaijan started a large-scale and unprovoked attack against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and Armenia. Azerbaijan waged a war during a global pandemic, against the call of the United Nation’s Secretary General for a global ceasefire.

These attacks are in direct violation of the ceasefire signed by Armenia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan in 1994.

With the support of Turkey, the war continued to escalate with indiscriminate bombings of civilian areas, attacking schools, hospitals, and churches. Turkey has publicly declared its support and continues to provide military assistance to Azerbaijan. Alarming for regional stability, Turkey has also facilitated the participation and provision of Syrian mercenaries, along with its own Special Forces, to join the war against Artsakh.

This has resulted into thousands of casualties, including many civilians. More than half of the population of Artsakh have been displaced and made their way to Armenia to seek refuge. Armenian prisoners of war have been brutally tortured and murdered.

On November 9 a trilateral agreement was signed between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia completely ignoring the rights of the Artsakh people and the ceasefire agreement of 1994.

Not only does this unjust agreement ignore the rights of the Artsakh people, but also the OSCE Minsk Group as the legitimate body that is entitled to resolve the conflict.

Taking into consideration,

– that this agreement does not safeguard the rights of the people of Artsakh;

– does not guarantee the right of safe return of the prisoners of war;

– does not grant a legal status to the Republic of Artsakh;

– does not offer a sustainable solution to the conflict;

– that the reports of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance of the Council of Europe (ECRI) and of the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) attest to the impossibility of the Armenian populations to live freely in Azerbaijan;

– that the security and freedom of the Armenian populations of Nagorno-Karabakh are not guaranteed by the Republic of Azerbaijan;

YES strongly condemns Azerbaijan and Turkey’s aggression and unprovoked attacks in Artsakh and Armenia and the committed war crimes against civilians, soldiers and POW’s.

YES strongly condemns Turkey’s involvement in Artsakh.

YES strongly condemns the use of Syrian mercenaries by Turkey.

YES calls upon the EU to guarantee the safety of the people of Artsakh and to provide humanitarian aid to the displaced families.

Co-signed by: JS Portugal