Moscow calls on the parties to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict to renounce the use of force and demonstrate political will to reach a compromise, a spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.

“Unfortunately, renewal of political dialogue is complicated by the escalation in the conflict zone, the increase in the number of casualties, including those among civilians,” Maria Zakharova said. “We believe that further escalation is simply unacceptable.”

According to Zakharova, the Nagorno Karabakh conflict was thoroughly discussed during Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers’ visits to Moscow in April-May, 2015.

“[Russian Foreign Minister] Sergey Lavrov constantly discusses the issue with his foreign colleagues. We are working in this direction in close cooperation with the United States and France. Recently, on the sidelines of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly, Minister [Lavrov] held a meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group, which addressed practical issues of conflict settlement in view of the Co-chairs upcoming visit to the region," Zakharova said.