Pope Francis said Monday, February 8 that he follows "with particular attention" the situation in the South Caucasus.

Addressing the members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See for the annual exchange of New Year greetings, the pontiff said several conflicts continue to smoulder in the South Caucasus region.

According to him, the fresh flared-up of conflicts in the past year are undermining the stability and security of the entire region.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev on November 9 signed a statement to end the war in Karabakh after almost 45 days. Under the deal, the Armenian side has returned all the seven regions surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, having lost a part of Karabakh itself in hostilities.