Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has told the nation that he sees no possibility of a diplomatic solution to the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, undermining international efforts for a lasting ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the territory.
"We must understand that the issue of Karabakh, at least at this stage and for a long time, cannot have a diplomatic solution", said Pashanian during a speech also broadcast on the social network, Facebook.
"Everything that is diplomatically acceptable for the side of Armenia is no longer acceptable for Azerbaijan," he said, calling on the Armenians to "take up arms and defend the homeland."
Pashinian's comments came after the statements of the Azerbaijani president, Ilham Aliyev, who said that he foresees a military resolution to the crisis and that the Azerbaijani forces will remove the Armenians "from our lands".
This rhetoric has undermined diplomatic efforts to end fighting between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian forces.
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The President of Armenia, Armen Sarkisian, recently visited Brussels while the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia are in Moscow to consult with Russia.
Hundreds of soldiers and civilians have died since the end of September, when the fighting began in the region populated by ethnic Armenians, but an area which is internationally recognized as the territory of Azerbaijan.
Both countries have reported new fighting on October 21 in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, failing the second ceasefire.
Armenia, which has a defense pact with Russia, has accused Turkey of sending mercenaries to fight on the Azerbaijani side.
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NATO member Turkey has denied the accusations, saying it has no direct role in the fighting.
Although recognized as part of Muslim-majority Azerbaijan, the Nagorno-Karabakh region has been controlled by ethnic Christian Armenians, backed by Yerevan, since a 1994 ceasefire. \ REL
