I thank USG DiCarlo for her update on the concerning situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. We commend the Secretary-General for keeping the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict high on his agenda and for delivering the strong and clear messages to the sides, including on their obligation under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Civilians on both sides have been caught in the deadliest fighting in the South Caucasus region for more than 25 years. We deplore in the strongest possible terms attacks against civilians, including the strikes on the Azerbaijani city of Ganja during the night of 16-17 October resulting in civilian, including children loss of life and serious injuries.
The cost of the hostilities is too high. Hundreds of people have been killed in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, less than one month of fighting. What is the most concerning – the ongoing conflict is inflicting an appalling toll on children. There are reports of mounting number of child fatalities and injuries. In addition, dozens of schools and homes have been damaged or destroyed. Countless children and families have endured extreme psychological trauma and distress since the beginning of the hostilities. Some 70,000 people have been displaced in the latest escalation. Without a permanent end to the fighting, the death toll will tragically increase.
We join the UN High Officials’ (SG, OHCHR, UNICEF) calls on the parties to immediately stop fighting and start implementing the ceasefire which was first agreed on 10th October and secondly on 17th October and agree urgently upon a ceasefire verification mechanism, as well as facilitate the safe, unhindered and sustained delivery of lifesaving aid, including providing full and secure access to the region for humanitarian actors. Children, families and their homes must be protected in line with international human rights law and humanitarian law.
We thank the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs for the mediation efforts to reach the humanitarian ceasefire. There is no military solution to the conflict. The parties should return to the substantial political negotiations without delay under the auspices of the Minsk Group co-chairs. We urge both sides to come out with steps to de-escalate and find peaceful long-term solution to the conflict.
We would also like to remind that indirect participation in this frozen conflict by an external party is not acceptable and further escalates tensions in the region.
We continue to keep a close eye on the developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone and insist that the Security Council will remain seized of the matter, if the developments on the ground so require.