In a letter to H.E. Zbigniew Rau, OSCE chairman-in-office, and minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, World Council of Churches acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca and Dr Jørgen Skov Sørensen, general secretary of the Conference of European Churches, jointly appeal for urgent action by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to promote a just and sustainable peace in the Caucasus, following renewed violence in the region in which more than 100 lives have already been lost.
The latest escalation in conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia began on the night of 13/14 September, just days after the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches adopted a Minute on the consequences of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, drawing attention to several lingering and unresolved issues following that deadly and destructive war, and calling for “the start of meaningful dialogue for a just and peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group.”
The joint WCC-CEC letter notes that “this renewed armed violence risks further escalation and yet more death and destruction.” The letter observes that “credible reports and analysis suggest that Azerbaijan is seeking – through the renewal of hostilities while the international community is focused on the ongoing crisis in Ukraine – to force Armenia into accepting a settlement on its terms.,” and urges the OSCE “to do your utmost to avert any such cynical misuse of the current geopolitical situation, to avoid further escalation, and to promote more rapid and effective progress towards a just and sustainable peace in the region.”
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WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES, CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN CHURCHES JOINTLY APPEAL FOR CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES BETWEEN AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN FORCES
The World Council of Churches (WCC) and Conference of European Churches are jointly appealing for a cessation of hostilities between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces, and for dialogue to resolve the many unresolved issues following the conflict two years ago.
On 13 September, fighting erupted between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the latest flare-up in their decades-long armed standoff over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus.
“Just a few days ago, the World Council of Churches 11th Assembly raised concerns about the unresolved situation following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, and called inter alia for meaningful dialogue for a just and peaceful settlement of this conflict in the framework of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Minsk Group,” reads the joint message. “Today, renewed hostilities between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces have resulted in dozens of deaths, and raised renewed fears of even more serious escalation.”
“We urge the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Minsk Group and all members of the international community to encourage, support, and facilitate meaningful dialogue for a just and sustainable peace in the region,” reads the joint message.
The clashes on 13 September were the worst escalation of hostilities between the two countries since a 2020 war over Nagorno-Karabakh. World Council of Churches, Conference of European Churches jointly appeal for cessation of hostilities between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) and Conference of European Churches are jointly appealing for a cessation of hostilities between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces, and for dialogue to resolve the many unresolved issues following the conflict two years ago.
On 13 September, fighting erupted between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the latest flare-up in their decades-long armed standoff over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus.
“Just a few days ago, the World Council of Churches 11th Assembly raised concerns about the unresolved situation following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, and called inter alia for meaningful dialogue for a just and peaceful settlement of this conflict in the framework of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Minsk Group,” reads the joint message. “Today, renewed hostilities between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces have resulted in dozens of deaths, and raised renewed fears of even more serious escalation.”
“We urge the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Minsk Group and all members of the international community to encourage, support, and facilitate meaningful dialogue for a just and sustainable peace in the region,” reads the joint message.
The clashes on 13 September were the worst escalation of hostilities between the two countries since a 2020 war over Nagorno-Karabakh.
