August 5, 2014 - 11:39 AMT
UN, U.S. call for de-escalation at Karabakh contact line

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced concerns over the recent escalation of violence at the contact line between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan armed forces, urging “the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides to respect a ceasefire agreement.”

In a statement from his spokesperson, Ban said he shares the deep concerns expressed by the Co-chairs of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, the group driving efforts to find a peaceful solution to conflict, and other international partners.

Ban “urges all parties to respect the ceasefire agreement, refrain from further violence and commit themselves to immediate de-escalation and continuing dialogue in the pursuit of a rapid and peaceful political solution,” according to the statement.

Aiming to resolve what he described as a “dangerous situation,” Ban expressed his full support for the efforts by the OSCE and other parties working to resolve the conflict.

Meanwhile, Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, Jen Psaki expressed “deep concern about the escalation of violence along the line of contact that has resulted in significant casualties since July 31.”

“We certainly extend our condolences to the families of those killed or injured and call on the sides to take immediate action to reduce tensions and respect the ceasefire. There can be no military solution to this conflict. Retaliation and further violence will only make it more difficult to bring about a peaceful settlement. We remain committed, as a Co-chair of the Minsk Group, to helping all sides reach a lasting settlement to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,” Psaki told a daily briefing.