Canada suspends military exports to Turkey over Nagorno-Karabakh crisis
Bayraktar drone (Photo: AA)
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Canada has suspended military exports to Turkey as it investigates claims that the equipment has been used in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs said yesterday (October 5).
"In line with Canada's robust export control regime and due to the ongoing hostilities, I have suspended the relevant export permits to Turkey, so as to allow time to further assess the situation," François-Philippe Champagne (FPC) Flag of Canada said on Twitter and added: "Canada calls for measures to be taken immediately to stop the violence and protect civilians."
Drone optics and laser targeting systems of Turkey's TB2 Bayraktar armed drone are reportedly among Turkey's military imports from Canada.
In line with robust export control regime and the ongoing investigation, I have suspended the relevant export permits to #Turkey. calls for measures to be taken immediately to stop the violence and protect civilians. pic.twitter.com/mCLmjWKq4G
— François-Philippe Champagne(@FP_Champagne) October 5, 2020
Hundreds of people have been reportedly killed in the clashes that broke out on September 27 in the disputed region.
Turkey openly supports Azerbaijan but both Ankara and Baku have denied the reports about Turkey's assistance in the form of military equipment and "Syrian fighters."
"Upon learning of these allegations, I immediately directed Global Affairs Canada to investigate these claims," Champagne noted.
"Canada continues to be concerned by the ongoing conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh resulting in shelling of communities and civilian casualties," he stated, adding that there is no alternative to "a peaceful, negotiated solution."
Notes about Nagorno-KarabakhIt is a mountainous region of approximately 4,400 square kilometers. Christian Armenians and Muslim Turks live there. During the Soviet Union era, it became an autonomous region in the Azerbaijan Republic. It is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but the majority of the population comprises of ethnic Armenians. The sovereign status of the Nagorno-Karabakh administration, the Republic of Artsakh, is not recognized by any United Nations member state, including Armenia. During the conflict between 1988-1994, about one million people were displaced and 30,000 were killed. Russia has a military base in Armenia. The dispute between Armenia and AzerbaijanRelations between the two former Soviet countries have been tense since 1989 over Nagorno-Karabakh, or Upper Karabakh, an internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan. In 1989, the parliament of Azerbaijan removed Nagorno-Karabakh's autonomous status, which had been in place since 1923. During the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Armenia began military operations into Nagorno-Karabakh in 1991. In the same year, the separatist administration in Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence. The Azeri people of the region had boycotted the independence referendum. The independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh, or Artsakh republic, is not internationally recognized. Four UN Security Council and two UN General Assembly resolutions as well as many international organizations demand the withdrawal of the occupying forces. The OSCE Minsk Group – co-chaired by France, Russia and the US – was formed in 1992 to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. A cease-fire was agreed upon in 1994. France, Russia and NATO, among others, have urged an immediate halt to clashes in the occupied region. |
(PT/VK)