French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed concern about Turkey allegedly sending Syrian mercenaries to support Azerbaijan in its re-ignited conflict with Armenia over the mountain region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Macron's office said in a statement Thursday that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the issue in a phone call Wednesday night, and both “share concern about the sending of Syrian mercenaries by Turkey to Nagorno-Karabakh." Macron's office did not provide further information about the mercenaries.
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French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed concern about Turkey allegedly sending Syrian mercenaries to support Azerbaijan in its re-ignited conflict with Armenia over the mountain region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The renewed fighting in the Caucasus Mountains, at the crossroads between Russia, Turkey and Iran, has killed dozens of people since Sunday and raised concerns of a broader conflict. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday in a flare-up of a decades-old conflict.
Macron said he and Putin called for restraint and agreed upon the need for a joint effort toward a cease-fire, as part of international mediation efforts for Nagorno-Karabakh led by Russia, France and the U.S. since a 1994 truce ended a war there.
Protesters hold up signs outside the Consulate General of Azerbaijan, during a demonstration held by the Armenian Youth Federation on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, in Los Angeles. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, with statements from both sides indicating that the flare-up of a decades-old conflict that has killed dozens of people since Sunday was no closer to an end. (Keith BirminghamThe Orange County Register via AP)
Young volunteers help soldiers to clean Kalashnikovs guns with preservative grease near Hadrut, self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, in the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict in years that has killed dozens and left scores of others wounded. (AP PhotoKaren Mirzoyan)
People attend a demonstration held by the Armenian Youth Federation outside the Consulate General of Azerbaijan on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, in Los Angeles. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, with statements from both sides indicating that the flare-up of a decades-old conflict that has killed dozens of people since Sunday was no closer to an end. (Keith BirminghamThe Orange County Register via AP)
In this photo taken from a video released by the Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, Azerbaijan's forces destroy Armenian army's multiple rocket launcher during fighting in the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani has continued for a fourth straight day as statements from both sides indicating that the flare-up of a decades-old conflict that has killed dozens of people this week was no closer to an end. (Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry via AP)
Ethnic Armenians volunteer recruits gather at a center where they receive their uniforms and weapons before being dispatched to the frontline near Hadrut, self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, in the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict in years that has killed dozens and left scores of others wounded. (AP PhotoKaren Mirzoyan)
Ethnic Armenians volunteer recruits gather at a center where they receive their uniforms and weapons before being dispatched to the frontline near Hadrut, self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, in the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict in years that has killed dozens and left scores of others wounded. (AP PhotoKaren Mirzoyan)
Ethnic Armenian Rosa reacts after her house was damaged during shelling in the town of Martuni, self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, in the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict in years that has killed dozens and left scores of others wounded. (AP PhotoKaren Mirzoyan)
Young volunteers help soldiers to clean Kalashnikovs guns with preservative grease near Hadrut, self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, in the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict in years that has killed dozens and left scores of others wounded. (AP PhotoKaren Mirzoyan)
Azerbaijani men gather in a military commissariat to join the army in Tartar region, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, in the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict in years that has killed dozens and left scores of others wounded. (AP PhotoAziz Karimov)
Ethnic Armenians volunteer recruits gather at a center where they receive their uniforms and weapons before being dispatched to the frontline near Hadrut, self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, in the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict in years that has killed dozens and left scores of others wounded. (AP PhotoKaren Mirzoyan)
Turkey has publicly supported Azerbaijan in the conflict and said it would provide assistance if requested, but denied sending foreign mercenaries or arms to the region.
In this photo provided by the Azerbaijan's Presidential Press Office, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva visit the Central Military Clinical Hospital of the Defence Ministry to meet with Azeri service members, who were wounded during clashes over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Baku, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh has continued as statements from both sides indicating that the flare-up of a decades-old conflict that has killed dozens of people this week was no closer to an end. (Azerbaijani Presidential Press Office via AP)
The renewed fighting in the Caucasus Mountains, at the crossroads between Russia, Turkey and Iran, has killed dozens of people since Sunday and raised concerns of a broader conflict. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday in a flare-up of a decades-old conflict.
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday expressed concerns over reports about “militants from illegal armed groups, in particular from Syria, Libya” being sent to the conflict zone in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The ministry didn’t clarify which country may have sent the fighters or which country the fighters may have arrived in, but in a statement urged “leadership of the states concerned to take effective measures to prevent the use of foreign terrorists and mercenaries in the conflict.”
In this photo provided by the Azerbaijan's Presidential Press Office, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev speaks as he visits the Central Military Clinical Hospital of the Defence Ministry to meet with Azeri service members, who were wounded during clashes over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Baku, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh has continued as statements from both sides indicating that the flare-up of a decades-old conflict that has killed dozens of people this week was no closer to an end. (Azerbaijani Presidential Press Office via AP)
Macron said he and Putin called for restraint and agreed upon the need for a joint effort toward a cease-fire, as part of international mediation efforts for Nagorno-Karabakh led by Russia, France and the U.S. since a 1994 truce ended a war there.
The president of Azerbaijan said Armenia’s withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh was the sole condition to end fighting over the separatist territory. Armenian officials alleged Turkey’s involvement in the renewed conflict, which Turkey has denied.
People hold signs and flags during a demonstration held by the Armenian Youth Federation outside the Consulate General of Azerbaijan on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, in Los Angeles. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, with statements from both sides indicating that the flare-up of a decades-old conflict that has killed dozens of people since Sunday was no closer to an end. (Keith BirminghamThe Orange County Register via AP)
Protesters hold up signs outside the Consulate General of Azerbaijan, during a demonstration held by the Armenian Youth Federation on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, in Los Angeles. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, with statements from both sides indicating that the flare-up of a decades-old conflict that has killed dozens of people since Sunday was no closer to an end. (Keith BirminghamThe Orange County Register via AP)
Young volunteers help soldiers to clean Kalashnikovs guns with preservative grease near Hadrut, self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, in the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict in years that has killed dozens and left scores of others wounded. (AP PhotoKaren Mirzoyan)
People attend a demonstration held by the Armenian Youth Federation outside the Consulate General of Azerbaijan on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, in Los Angeles. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, with statements from both sides indicating that the flare-up of a decades-old conflict that has killed dozens of people since Sunday was no closer to an end. (Keith BirminghamThe Orange County Register via AP)
In this photo taken from a video released by the Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, Azerbaijan's forces destroy Armenian army's multiple rocket launcher during fighting in the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani has continued for a fourth straight day as statements from both sides indicating that the flare-up of a decades-old conflict that has killed dozens of people this week was no closer to an end. (Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry via AP)
Ethnic Armenians volunteer recruits gather at a center where they receive their uniforms and weapons before being dispatched to the frontline near Hadrut, self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, in the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict in years that has killed dozens and left scores of others wounded. (AP PhotoKaren Mirzoyan)
Ethnic Armenians volunteer recruits gather at a center where they receive their uniforms and weapons before being dispatched to the frontline near Hadrut, self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, in the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict in years that has killed dozens and left scores of others wounded. (AP PhotoKaren Mirzoyan)
Ethnic Armenian Rosa reacts after her house was damaged during shelling in the town of Martuni, self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, in the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict in years that has killed dozens and left scores of others wounded. (AP PhotoKaren Mirzoyan)
Young volunteers help soldiers to clean Kalashnikovs guns with preservative grease near Hadrut, self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, in the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict in years that has killed dozens and left scores of others wounded. (AP PhotoKaren Mirzoyan)
Azerbaijani men gather in a military commissariat to join the army in Tartar region, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, in the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict in years that has killed dozens and left scores of others wounded. (AP PhotoAziz Karimov)
Ethnic Armenians volunteer recruits gather at a center where they receive their uniforms and weapons before being dispatched to the frontline near Hadrut, self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Heavy fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, in the biggest escalation of a decades-old conflict in years that has killed dozens and left scores of others wounded. (AP PhotoKaren Mirzoyan)