OSCE Minsk Group reiterates calls for resuming Karabakh talks

PanARMENIAN.Net - The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have issued a second statement over the recent escalation in Nagorno Karabakh, reiterating their extreme concern over the ceasefire violations that occurred on Tuesday, July 4 and calling on the parties to resume negotiations.

Azerbaijan on Tuesday violated the ceasefire on the contact line with Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), using various caliber mortars and even employed a TR-107 rocket engine in the south of the frontline. Artsakh Defense Army opened retaliatory fire to suppress the rival’s attacks. During the incident, two civilians - a 52-year-old woman and a 2-year-old girl from Azerbaijan - were killed.

"We remind the sides of their obligations under the Geneva Conventions to refrain from any hostile action that could lead to unacceptable civilian casualties," a French representative read out the Minsk Group co-chairs' message at an OSCE Permanen Council meeting on Thursday.

"We appeal the parties to take immediate measures to defuse the situation and strictly observe the 1994/1995 ceasefire agreement.

"The Russian Federation, France and the United States stress the necessity to resume as soon as possible negotiations on a peaceful settlement of the conflict, as the only way to bring peace, prosperity and genuine reconciliation to all the peoples of the region.”

The Minsk Group's first statement was issued on Wednesday, with the co-chairs urging the sides to return to the negotiation table in good faith.

On Thursday, the U.S. State Department too called on the sides the sides to cease military action and return to the negotiating table