Armenia, Azerbaijan Sign Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Deal by Video-conference

In a historic first, the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed a peace deal by video-conference today to end the decades-old conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and the end the recent-most serious flare-up that has caused hundreds of casualties.

Brokered by Russian and Turkey, the peace deal seeks to withdraw Armenian troops from the disputed territory and replace them with Russian peacekeepers who are already on their way to Nagorno-Karabakh, Russian and Armenian media reported.

Agreeing to the deal, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that he had no choice but to sign a statement on Karabakh. "There was no other way out, besides signing the statement. This will have a direct impact on the hostilities," Pashinyan said live on his page in facebook. "The decision was made as a result of an analysis of the military situation and on the basis of assessments of people who are most familiar with the military situation,” he added.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said that the signing of the trilateral statement marks an end to the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

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"Today, an end is being put in the settlement of the long-term conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan is coming to an end. I believe that this settlement is for the benefit of both the people of Azerbaijan, the people of Armenia, and all the peoples of the region. The conflict, I am sure, will bring long-term peace and solidarity to our region; put an end to confrontation and bloodshed," Aliyev said during a video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"The end of this conflict is a historic event, first of all, for the Azerbaijani people, who are getting rid of the long-term occupation of their territories. It is also the triumph of the norms and principles of international law, the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions, which, unfortunately, remained on paper for many years," added the President of Azerbaijan.

Russia, Turkey Joint Monitoring Center

On November 10, the Russian and Turkish Defense Ministries will sign a special agreement on the establishment of a joint monitoring center for the observance of the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh, Interfax reported quoting an –Azerbaijan government source.

"The activities of this monitoring corps are regulated by the fifth point of the joint statement of the heads of state of Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia," the source said.

 Earlier, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that a joint peacekeeping mission of Russia and Turkey would be carried out in Nagorno-Karabakh. "There will be a joint peacekeeping mission of Russia and Turkey. This is a new format," he said