There may not be any poppy fields, and the numbers are in comparison miniscule, but the senseless deaths on the hills of Karabakh remind the world of the Great War

Editorial Comment

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence announced that one of its officers was killed yesterday by Armenian sniper fire in the Karabakh conflict zone. In the meantime the President of Armenia this morning layed flowers on the grave of an Armenian soldier killed last week by Azerbaijani fire. Two more young lives lost; two more families without their sons. The first month of the new year is not yet over, and already the casualties in the unfinished war between Armenia and Azerbaijan are high.

On Friday, the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan met in Paris as efforts continue to try to resolve the conflict. The impression from the little that has been said so far on the meeting is that the discussions were useful but inconclusive. Both sides lack enough political will to move forward. They either do not want to, or they cannot. Probably both. It seems that many more young people need to die before the sides decide that they must end the bloodshed.

As Europeans prepare to commemorate World War I, the Karabakh conflict reminds them of that horrible conflict that took the lives of millions. The numbers of those who are loosing their lives in Karabakh is miniscule in comparison, and their are few poppies on the killing hills of Karabakh, but the conflict is equally senseless. No amount of medals and flowers will restore the lives of those that are being killed on a nearly daily basis, or justify the senseless killing

It is important that the new phase of negotiations, facilitated by the OSCE Minsk Group co-Chair countries - France, Russia and the United States - will not simply be another act in a ritual, but the start of meaningful negotiations. The first responsability for this is with the political leaderships of Armenia and Azerbaijan. But the co-Chair countries now, twenty years after the often broken cease fire has been declared, also have responsabilities towards the people on the conflict sides, and to the world community. If there is procrastination they must name and shame, for in the meantime, every new death on the Karabakh killing hills, shames us all.

This comment was prepared by the editorial team of commonspace.eu

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
LINKS Europe announces the names of all the chairpersons of the five thematic groups for the development of the Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue

LINKS Europe announces the names of all the chairpersons of the five thematic groups for the development of the Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue

LINKS Europe has successfully completed the first phase of its project to develop the Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue as part of its commitment within the EU4Peace III programme, funded by the European Union. In this first phase, which lasted from September 2024 to April 2025, LINKS Europe conducted an assessment of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations and mobilised the personnel necessary for delivering the project output. LINKS Europe Foundation is pleased to announce the names of the chairs/co-chairs of the five thematic groups within the initiative.  

Popular

Editor's choice
News
LINKS Europe announces the names of all the chairpersons of the five thematic groups for the development of the Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue

LINKS Europe announces the names of all the chairpersons of the five thematic groups for the development of the Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue

LINKS Europe has successfully completed the first phase of its project to develop the Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue as part of its commitment within the EU4Peace III programme, funded by the European Union. In this first phase, which lasted from September 2024 to April 2025, LINKS Europe conducted an assessment of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations and mobilised the personnel necessary for delivering the project output. LINKS Europe Foundation is pleased to announce the names of the chairs/co-chairs of the five thematic groups within the initiative.