Azerbaijan must withdraw troops from occupied territories of Armenia –Security Council issues statement
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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan chaired a meeting of the Security Council on September 19.
The Council issued a statement, saying:
“In the night of September 12-13, 2022, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces launched a large-scale aggression against the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia with the use of large caliber weapons, artillery, rocket systems and unmanned aerial vehicles.
The number of those killed and missing as a result of the aggression reaches 207, including 3 killed civilians, 2 missing civilians, 293 troops are wounded, 7 civilians are wounded, and 20 troops were taken captive. Evidence exists on cases of torture and dismemberment or murder of captive Armenian soldiers or bodies of killed Armenian soldiers committed by the Azerbaijanis.
36 towns were targeted by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, including the communities of Goris, Sisian, Kapan, Jermuk, Vardenis, Tegh and Geghamasar, which caused the complete or partial destruction of 192 houses, 3 hotels, 2 schools, 1 medical facility, 1 entertainment hall and 4 barns. 7 electricity infrastructures, 5 water infrastructures, 3 gas pipelines, 1 bridge, 2 roads and 1 street were damaged. Two ambulance vehicles and 4 civilian personal vehicles were targeted.
The Azerbaijani Armed Forces penetrated into the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia from several directions. The Azerbaijani assault was halted due to the persistent and heroic resistance of the Armenian Armed Forces and the involvement of the international community, but the military-political situation remains tense.
Azerbaijan’s aggressive policy seeks to derail the efforts for establishing peace in the region, opening of regional connections and comprehensive resolution of the NK conflict and impose forced solutions upon the Republic of Armenia.
Having adopted the agenda of establishing peace and opening of regional connections, the Republic of Armenia considers Azerbaijan’s policy of threats and imposition to be unacceptable.
The Security Council is announcing that the Republic of Armenia, with all available means, will protect its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Azerbaijani troops must withdraw from occupied territories of the Republic of Armenia.
We call on the international community to exert continuous pressures on Azerbaijan to cease the occupation of Armenian sovereign territory and pull back its troops and we commend all countries and organizations who have expressed their clear position.
At the same time we reiterate the commitment of the Republic of Armenia to adhere to the obligation of a responsible member of the international community.”