Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has urged Ukrainian officials to make balanced comments on the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia that would be in line with Ukraine's official position instead of provoking confrontation and enmity.
"In short, control your own emotions and don't play with those of other people," he wrote on Facebook.
"Regarding the statements by a Ukrainian lawmaker on the provision of military, humanitarian or any other assistance to foreign states, I'd like to note the following: every MP may express their position or opinion on any issue, but the decision to provide assistance to foreign nations is within the competence of the government and president of Ukraine," Kuleba said.
Read alsoUkraine consistently supports Azerbaijan's territorial integrity – FM KulebaThe minister has also recalled that Ukraine is home to a large Armenian and Azerbaijani diaspora.
"It is extremely important to ensure peace and interethnic harmony for all ethnic communities living in Ukraine. I urge representatives of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities not to succumb to provocation and to comply with Ukraine's legislation," he added.
Earlier personal statements of officials on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
MP with the Servant of the People Party, Liudmyla Marchenko, told Ukraine 24 TV Channel that Ukraine would allegedly move to provide military aid to Azerbaijan if requested.
Later, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, an ethnic Armenian, said Ukraine would provide no military assistance to any of the parties to the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict.
"However, the whole country should scramble to provide medical assistance, perhaps some pills for certain fantasizing lawmakers," Avakov wrote in a snapping tweet on Friday, apparently hinting at the MP's mentioned statement.
Escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh: Recent developments
- On the morning of Sunday, September 27,fighting resumed between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Both countries blamed each other for shelling as a result of which they suffered casualties.
- Armenia and the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic declared martial law and general mobilization.
- Azerbaijan, in turn, introduced martial law on September 28. Partial mobilization was announced in that country.
- Azerbaijan said that during a successful offensive they took control of several villages of Nagorno-Karabakh, but Armenia denies the information.
- Both sides claim that they inflicted huge losses on the enemy, numbering hundreds of killed soldiers and dozens of destroyed units of military equipment.
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says Ukraine consistently supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
- The UN Security Council has called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to immediately stop fighting.
Nagorno-Karabakh war: History
The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region began in 1988, when the predominantly Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.
In 1991-1994, the bloodshed conflict continued in the region, which ended with the signing of a ceasefire protocol. Nagorno-Karabakh proclaimed itself an independent "republic." Azerbaijan did not recognize this, considering the territory to have been occupied by Armenia.
