New York: While condemning all attacks on populated areas impacted by the conflict, the United Nations has regretted that both Armenia and Azerbaijan had continuously ignored the repeated calls of the international community to immediately stop the fighting.
At least 12 civilians, including children, were killed and 40 more wounded from the latest reported strike on the nights of October 16-17 on the city of Ganja in Azerbaijan. Calling these killings as “totally unacceptable”, the UN condemned such indiscriminate attacks on populated areas anywhere, including in Stepanakert/Khankendi and other localities in and around the immediate Nagorno‑Karabakh zone of conflict.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his latest calls with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan on October 18, had underscored that both sides had the obligation under international humanitarian law to take constant care to spare and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in the conduct of military operations and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Guterres took note of the latest announcement on the start of the humanitarian truce on October 18 and said he expected both parties to fully abide by this commitment and resume substantive negotiations without delay under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chairs.
In the meantime, the Secretary-General also “strongly” condemned ‘indiscriminate’ attack on provincial police headquarters in civilian-populated area in Afghanistan’s province of Ghor on October 18.
Also read: UNSC welcomes Afghan peace talks in Doha
According to preliminary reports, the attack had claimed the lives of at least 13 persons and injured dozens of civilians, including women and children. “Those who carry out such crimes must be held accountable,” Guterres demanded.
It may be mentioned that the United Nations has committed to support the people and Government of Afghanistan. The peace talk between the government and the Taliban too had started in Doha in September.
– globalbihari bureau
