Azerbaijani armed forces units, resorting once again to large-scale provocation, opened intense fire starting at 00:05 midnight on 13 September in the directions of Sotk, Vardenis, Goris, Kapan, Artanish and Ishkhanasar, targeting Armenian positions and also targeting the settlements of innocent civilians.
It is evident that the disinformation spread in recent days regarding shelling by the Armenian side was a plan designed by Azerbaijan’s military-political leadership, with the aim of creating an artificial pretext for this act of violence.
With this deliberate criminal encroachment aimed at escalating border tensions, Azerbaijan’s goal is to derail the negotiation process, evade the implementation of certain provisions of the 9 November trilateral agreement, and through violence and pressure, force Armenia to provide a corridor and impose concessions from the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia.
Indeed, the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party strongly condemns this criminal attack directed against the Armenian people by Azerbaijan.
We expect from the Russian Federation and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) the fulfilment of their obligation to protect the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, as provided for by the relevant treaties with Armenia.
We also draw the attention of the international community, the European Union and the UN Security Council to this intolerable assault, which contains clear violations of international humanitarian law standards and elements of war crimes, demanding the condemnation of Azerbaijan’s encroachments and the taking of immediate measures aimed at halting them, by activating international legal mechanisms.
In view of these developments, the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party calls on all Armenians of the homeland and the diaspora to unite and jointly exert every possible effort to bring our homeland out of this disastrous situation, and to stand by the Armenian army standing firm at the homeland’s border.
We also expect the parliamentary opposition to recognise the gravity of the moment, set aside its political and ideological differences, and jointly undertake with the authorities the sacred task of neutralising the threats shaking the foundations of our nation and statehood.
The Armenian Democratic Liberal Party expresses its deep condolences to the families of those killed as a result of the Azerbaijani attack, and wishes a speedy recovery to the wounded.
CENTRAL BOARD OF THE ARMENIAN DEMOCRATIC LIBERAL PARTY
Raffi Balian | Secretary
Mike Kharapyan | Chairman
14 September 2022
