(9 May 2018) Armenia's new prime minister has marked his first full day in office by visiting the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and pledging to maintain security guarantees to the region that is part of Azerbaijan.
Nikol Pashinian's visit Wednesday was an effort to show continuity in his country's security policies after the weeks of protests that resulted in his appointment.
Pashinian called for "peaceful negotiations" to continue, but criticised Azerbaijan was racketing up tensions.
Pashinian questioned how the peace talks could be successful with the authorities in the autonomous region excluded from the talks.
"How can this negotiation format solve an issue when one of its key participants is missing from the negotiation table?" he told scores of reporters in the region's capital Stepanakert.
"The Republic of Artsakh itself can only speak for itself."
The new Armenian leader reiterated calls for international recognition of the region's sovereignty.
Earlier in the day, Pashinian met with the de-facto leader of the territory, Bako Sahakyan who was pleased with the assurances provided for the continued defence of the region.
Azerbaijan views Armenia's newly elected Prime Minister's visit to Nagorno-Karabakh with mixed feelings
Rasim Musabekov, member of Azerbaijan Parliament, said the visit was in violation of international law, but he hoped it could signal that Pashinian is willing to resume negotiations with Azerbaijan on conflict settlement issues.
Although Armenian leaders traditionally visit the region on May 9, the date on which many ex-Soviet countries mark the defeat of Nazi Germany, Pashinian's trip was likely to provoke resentment from Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Hikmet Hajieyv issued a statement insisting "the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is currently occupied, has always been an integral part of Azerbaijan."
Since a six-year separatist war ended in 1994, Nagorno-Karabakh has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia.
Shooting frequently breaks out across a demilitarised zone that separates the forces and Azerbaijan's soldiers, and a four-day war in 2016 killed scores on both sides.

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