OSCE Minsk Group "concerned" over loss of life in KarabakhFebruary 12, 2018 - 11:04 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The mediators of the OSCE Minsk Group have expressed 'deep concern' over the recent loss of life on the line of contact between Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) and Azerbaijan. An Armenian soldier of the Karabakh army, Hayk Kalantaryan (b. 1998) was killed in Azerbaijan's crossborder fire on February 7. Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America, together with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk, met Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan in Yerevan on February 7 and 9, respectively. Visiting Baku and Yerevan, they also held consultations with the foreign ministers of both countries. The co-chairs also traveled to Karabakh on February 9-11 to meet with the authorities there and visited specific locations in the Zangelan, Kubatly, Agdam, Lachin, and Kelbajar districts. "The co-chairs underscored the importance of fulfilling, in good faith, all commitments undertaken during the October 2017 Summit in Geneva and at previous summits, in particular, Vienna and St. Petersburg," the Minsk Group said in a statement. "The co-chairs expressed deep concern over the recent loss of life on the line of contact. The co-chairs call upon the sides to take additional steps to reduce tensions, as agreed in Geneva, and to respect the ceasefire. The Co-Chairs also call upon the sides to refrain from inflammatory statements and provocative actions. "The co-chairs reiterate their commitment to helping the sides find a peaceful solution to the conflict based on the core principles of the Helsinki Act, including the non-use of force, territorial integrity, and the equal rights and self-determination of peoples." Also, the mediators welcomed the parties' expressed intention to continue intensive negotiations, taking into account the current electoral period. 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 Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. Opposition leader, supporters spend night at Sardarapat memorial Police made nearly 300 arrests the day before as Galstanyan and his supporters continued to demonstrate in Yerevan. Armenia designates flood-hit communities as disaster areas The emergency situation was created by floods caused by heavy rains in Armenia’s north on May 25-26. |