00:00 The separatist, ethnic Armenian forces agreed to a Russian proposal of ceasefire on Wednesday.
00:08 The agreement to the ceasefire came almost 24 hours after Azerbaijan's army launched
00:13 an offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh to take control of the autonomous region.
00:17 The Karabakh forces have agreed to complete disarmament and full surrender, as demanded
00:22 by Azerbaijan.
00:23 According to reports, the self-styled Republic of Artsakh said that its authorities accept
00:29 the proposal of the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent to ceasefire.
00:33 The Republic of Artsakh said, "With the mediation of the command of the Russian peacekeeping
00:38 contingent stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh, an agreement was reached on the complete cessation
00:43 of hostilities from 1 p.m. on September 20, 2023."
00:48 As per reports, in a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Azerbaijan's President
00:53 Ilham Aliyev said that the operation in Nagorno-Karabakh will end if Armenian separatists lay down
00:59 their arms.
01:00 Around 120,000 ethnic Armenians live in the South Caucasus enclave, recognized internationally
01:05 as a part of Azerbaijan.
01:07 The announcement of ceasefire came hours after Armenian forces in Karabakh said that Azerbaijan
01:13 had broken through their lines and seized a number of heights and strategic road junctions.
01:18 They said that Azerbaijani forces carried out the incursion while the world stood by doing
01:22 nothing.
01:23 At least 27 people have been killed and another 200 wounded since the Azerbaijani military
01:29 launched what it called anti-terror operations on Tuesday, on September 19.
01:34 Azerbaijan also confirmed the ceasefire agreement reached with the Karabakh forces.
01:39 It added that Russian peacekeepers relayed the Karabakh-Armenian appeal for a ceasefire
01:43 to Azerbaijan.
01:44 However, Azerbaijan has not immediately set out the conditions.
01:48 The so-called anti-terrorist operation began on Tuesday after some of its troops were killed
01:53 in what Baku said were attacks from the mountainous region, which Azerbaijan had blockaded for
01:58 nine months.
01:59 Baku had demanded that the separatist political authorities in Karabakh, which is recognized
02:04 internationally as part of Azerbaijan, also disband before any talks are held about the
02:09 future of the region, which Azerbaijan wants to fully integrate.
02:12 Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan.
02:16 -
02:22 (dramatic music)
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