Frontline escalation: OSCE MG co-chair urges to stop violence

 January 24, 2015 - 15:25 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - 86 instances of ceasefire violation by Azeri troops were reported Jan 23-24 on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, with the rival firing 600 shots towards from various caliber weapons towards the positions of Armenian army which retaliated only in case of necessity. In this context, Defense Ministry reported a decrease in periodicity of ceasefire violations.

250 ceasefire violations were reported on the night of Jan 24 at the line of contact between the Nagorno Karabakh and Azeri armed forces. 2500 shots were fired from various caliber weapons including 60 millimeter mortars. No losses were reported on the Karabakh side.

In view of recent escalation the U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick issued an appeal on his Twitter page urging the Presidents to stop the violence along the line of contact and commit to negotiations.

Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, in turn, expressed concern over the human losses at the line of contact.

As Defence Ministry spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan reported on Jan 23, 3 Azerbaijani servicemen were killed in the area of Karvachar; also a commander of a sniper group was killed in the south of Artsakh.

Baku officially forbids a release of negative information on the army, including that of those injured and killed in the Azeri sabotage attempts.

“France wants the resumption of dialogue regarding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and will try to strengthen confidence-building measures between the sides,” Ambassador to Azerbaijan Pascal Meunier told APA.

“In general, in all conflicts either between individuals or states, one factor is taken into consideration: reconciliation is possible in case the sides intend to come to an agreement. Armenia and Azerbaijan may enter into dialogue which can include other issues of mutual interest. To achieve peace in the South Caucasus we are trying to strengthen dialogue and mutual understanding,” he said.

“In order to resume dialogue, the co-chairs are currently striving to meet first with the Azerbaijani FM and then with the Armenian FM. The OSCE MG co-chairs continue to take active part in the process. I believe it is important to conduct dialogue in all areas to achieve a great peace agreement. Negotiations are underway on exchange of the missing persons,” the envoy noted.