News - Turkey blames Armenia for Azerbaijan military aggression against Karabakh

Turkey has blamed Armenia for Azerbaijan's military aggression against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), saying that this was "a consequence of the fact that Armenia was not fulfilling its obligations under the previously reached agreements." The minister of national defense of Turkey, Yasar Guler, made such a statement in an interview with Milliyet daily. "Armenia has signed a ceasefire agreement based on the results of the previous 44-day [military] operation [in 2020]. And it must fulfill its terms. Terrorists have settled there [in Karabakh]. They extract illegally in the mines there. They were not listening to the warnings and were blocking the roads. In the last 10-15 days, they have been repeatedly warned to stop, but nothing has changed. And in the end, Azerbaijan answered them. At the end of one day [military operation of Azerbaijan], they said that they will surrender, give up their weapons, and leave," the Turkish defense minister said, TASS reports. According to Guler, "Russia has announced that all lands [in Karabakh] belong to Azerbaijan." He expressed hope that Azerbaijan's aforesaid military aggression "will be a step towards long-term peace." "Especially if Armenia properly fulfills its obligations, and the provisions of the peace treaty are implemented as soon as possible. After that, a climate of peace and tranquility will be established in the region," Guler added. And commenting on the recent military exercises between Armenia and the US in Armenia, the Turkish defense minister said that he does "not consider this event particularly important." Nevertheless, according to him, in the conditions of the current tension, the participation of even 25 people in the military exercises may be misunderstood, so it would be better for the parties to act more carefully.