Defense Minister, EU rep. talk border incidents in Karabakh conflict zone

November 5, 2015 - 12:18 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan met Wednesday, November 4 a delegation headed by the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and crisis in Georgia, Herbert Salber.

At the meeting, Ohanyan briefed Salber on the situation along the line of contact between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan and the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The Minister also referred to the recent escalation and shelling of settlements by the Azerbaijani armed forces, resulting in multiple human losses.

Ohanyan reaffirmed the importance of confidence-building measures on the contact line, urging the international community to specifically address the instigator behind border escalation.

Salber, in turn, voiced concern over frequent border incidents.

The EU representative also noted that the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict has no alternative. The European Union is confident the OSCE Minsk Group plays a leading role in the process, Salber said.

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.