International probe into four-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh would curb Azerbaijan’s aggression – Armenian expert

The fact that official Yerevan and Stepanakert did not take any steps after the four-day hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh arouses concern, Styopa Safaryan, founder of the Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs (AIISA), told reporters on Tuesday.

Otherwise the situation would be entirely different.

“We have let it go unpunished for so long that even after the Vienna meeting the Azerbaijani president stated he was giving us time until this June 14, 2016. And if a phased settlement process is not launched this month, we ‘should not take offence,’” Mr Safaryan said.

Safaryan described the recent military violence over Nagorno-Karabakh (civilians’ murder in the village Talish and servicemen’s mutilated bodies) as acts amounting to aggression, which were also in breach of international humanitarian law.

“But we were talked into continuing the negotiations. They made two decisions on paper, urging us to be satisfied with that and start the negotiations; yet those decisions remained on paper only. What I mean is the implementation of investigation mechanisms and a monitoring,” he added. 

The analyst said he doesn’t yet understand whether Armenia will officially apply to international bodies dealing with the above crimes. 

“We should have taken prompt efforts to submit reports on human rights violations to international bodies within several months to ensure restraining and indirect influence upon Azerbaijan,” he said, adding that the process is at times more important than the outcome proper.