OSCE keeps insisting on Karabakh ceasefire during Novruz, EasterMarch 21, 2016 - 17:48 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Germany’s Special Representative for the OSCE Chairmanship Gernot Erler and the Minsk Group Co-chairs – Ambassadors Igor Popov of Russia, James Warlick of the United States, and Piee Andrieu of France – reiterated on Monday, March 21 their strong commitment to a negotiated settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. “To achieve progress in the peace process, it is imperative for the sides to take all measures to avoid violence, particularly one that affects the civilian population living along the contact line and the Armenia-Azerbaijan border,” the OSCE statements said. “In this regard, we support the statement of the Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, who called on the sides to strictly respect the ceasefire during the Novruz Bayram and Easter. We urge the sides to create all conditions for the people of the region to celebrate the holidays in peace.” The Co-chairs, with the support of the German OSCE Chairmanship, will continue to work with the sides on elements of a lasting settlement, measures to reduce the risk of violence, and programs that promote people-to-people contacts, the statement went on to say. Azerbaijani army kept the situation in the Karabakh conflict zone tense on March 19-20, despite previous agreement to refrain from destabilizing the situation on the contact line. Azeri forces violated the truce in the reporting period, firing over 2400 shots from various caliber firearms, as well as 60- and 82-mm mortars. Following the attack, Azerbaijan habitually rushed to accuse the Armenian side of increasing the tension. The Nagorno Karabakh Ministry of Defense reiterated its commitment to strictly follow the agreements reached, at the same time ready to prevent any provocation by the rival, the Ministry said in a statement. 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 | Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenian government besieged by protesters Protesters led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan poured into Yerevan’s Republic Square to try to surround the seat of Armenia’s government. Armenia, Russia agree on repairing railway destroyed in floods Yerevan and Moscow have agreed to repair a flood-stricken railway in northern Armenia. EU calls on Azerbaijan to release all political prisoners The European Union calls on Azerbaijan to release all those imprisoned for exercising their fundamental rights. |