Brussels, 04/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini has called on Azerbaijan and Armenia “to stop the fighting immediately and observe the ceasefire” in Nagorno-Karabakh, judging that the reports of heavy fighting along the line of contact are “deeply worrying”. Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian-majority region, belongs to Azerbaijan but is an area of dispute between the two countries.
“The sides must show restraint and avoid any further actions or statements that could result in escalation”, Mogherini said in a press release. She stated that the European Union fully supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and the three co-chairs. “We expect both sides to respect strictly the ceasefire, refrain from the use of force and resume efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict”, Mogherini added.
She stated that the EU deplored the loss of life, in particular the reports of civilian casualties and deaths. Around 30 soldiers have reportedly been killed in the fighting.
Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland urged the two sides “to stop the totally unnecessary bloodshed which leads nowhere except to further violence and loss of lives, including many civilians” and “to protect the right to life (…) and to return to the ceasefire and resume peaceful negotiations”.
Several European diplomatic services - including that of Germany, which currently holds the presidency of the OSCE - have also spoken of their concern and have called for a ceasefire and return to the negotiating table.
Although Azerbaijan announced a unilateral ceasefire on Sunday 3 April following the greatest fighting since the end of the war 22 years ago, the fighting seemed to be continuing on Monday 4 April, having started up again on Friday 1 April. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)