OSCE Minsk Group issues statement on contact line incident (updated)October 18, 2013 - 11:44 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Minsk Group Co-chairs and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk issued a statement regarding the incident registered at the line of contact between the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani armed forces Thursday, Oct 17. “Following the usual exchange of security guarantees by local commanders on both sides of the line of contact, members of both OSCE teams heard shooting as they approached their observation points. Safety and security concerns prompted the Personal Representative to abandon the exercise,” the statement says, adding, however, that “it was not possible to determine from where the shots were fired.” “The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group are aware that all those involved in facilitating OSCE monitoring exercises show a high degree of professionalism. They believe that this exceptional and regrettable incident undermines the work of these individuals, and of the Personal Representative and his team, as well as the ceasefire agreement of May 1994. The Co-chairs urge the relevant authorities to investigate it thoroughly and impartially,” the statement says. As the NKR Foreign Ministry’s press service said, the monitoring of the contact line between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani armed forces was suspended Thursday, due to shots fired from the Azeri side. The violation was registered by the monitoring group on both sides. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan Press Agency, citing a diplomat source, reported that the Co-chairs will visit the region during the first week of November. The mediators will arrive in Baku and then leave for Yerevan to continue efforts armed at resolution of Karabakh conflict and organization of a presidential meeting in late November. Related links: The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29 Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said. Russia accuses West of preparing invasion of CSTO countries NATO is preparing an invasion of the CSTO countries, the number of provocations in the air is growing, Sergei Shoigu has said. Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Armenia: Rescue workers restore pedestrian bridge for flood-hit community Rescue workers on Wednesday, June 5 restored a pedestrian bridge in the town of Alaverdi in Armenia’s north. |