Yerevan: Immediately after the announcement of the complete agreement on the draft peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Yerevan initiated provocations. For several days now, the armed forces of Armenia have continued provocations along the conditional border.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Armenia has been intensively firing at the positions of the Azerbaijan Army along the conditional border. With this move, Armenia once again resorts to its policy of playing a double game. On the one hand, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan tries to present himself as a supporter of peace to the international community, while on the other hand, ceasefire violations take place and intensify. Previous Armenian leaders also spoke of peace while simultaneously engaging in military provocations. Pashinyan follows the same path.
Since March 4, Armenian armed forces have continuously fired at the positions of the Azerbaijan Army, resorting to new provocations. In recent days, intensive violations of the ceasefire have been recorded. On March 16, 17, and 18, the positions of the Azerbaijani Army were intermittently fired upon multiple times.
In an interview with APA, Fuad Abdullayev, an expert from the Center for Analysis of International Relations, stated that Armenia is attempting to manipulate the situation through deliberate statements and provocations on the border following the announcement of the peace agreement. He emphasized that Armenia is trying to weaken Azerbaijan’s international position during the peace agreement negotiation process and to portray Azerbaijan as an unconstructive party.
Armenian soldiers serving at combat posts on the conditional border have been using provocative language and gestures in an attempt to elicit emotional reactions from Azerbaijani troops. This can be interpreted as a form of psychological warfare, aiming to undermine soldiers’ morale, reduce their combat capabilities, and disrupt military discipline.
The provocations by Armenia are occurring at a time when negotiations on the peace agreement have intensified, clearly demonstrating that Yerevan is not interested in the peace process. Such actions are aimed at destabilizing the region and pose a significant obstacle to building mutual trust between the parties. Continuing such actions could lead to heightened tensions and new dangerous escalations in the future.
It is essential for Armenia to refrain from such actions to ensure the successful continuation of the peace process and the strengthening of stability in the region. The Armenian government must understand that constant tension and confrontation serve neither the country’s economic development nor social well-being.
According to Fuad Abdullayev, the provocations are intended to draw international attention to the South Caucasus and create the impression that Armenia is under threat. The socio-political situation within Armenia, with increasing dissatisfaction and protests, may also be a reason for these provocations, serving to divert public attention from internal problems.
The Azerbaijan Army demonstrates professionalism and composure by refusing to fall for such provocations. Azerbaijani soldiers act calmly and thwart the plans of the opposing forces, proving their high level of combat and psychological readiness.
Fuad Abdullayev warns that continued provocations by Armenia could potentially lead to a military confrontation. The Azerbaijani state and army are based on peace and security and take necessary measures to protect their borders without resorting to provocative actions. Armenia must change its policy to ensure peace and fulfill its international obligations, as failure to do so could lead to dangerous consequences for the entire region. Undoubtedly, Yerevan will bear the heaviest blow.