The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, called on Armenia and Azerbaijan, on 22 July, urging to end their armed confrontations.
Tensions have risen sharply between the two countries in recent days. On Tuesday 21, Yerevan accused Baku of carrying out an attack on the border, which Baku denied. The two countries have been in conflict for years over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Both sides must “refrain from action and rhetoric that provoke tension, in particular from any further threats to critical infrastructure in the region” and all regional actors should contribute to this peaceful goal, Mr Borrell said in a three-way telephone conversation with the foreign ministers of Armenia, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, and Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov. This was the first three-way call, following bilateral ones on 13 July.
According to a statement by the European External Action Service, Mr Borrell encouraged both sides to reaffirm their commitment to a ceasefire and to take immediate steps to avoid further escalation.
“Armenia and Azerbaijan should make use of their mechanism for direct communication, the established format led by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, as well as the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office”, he stressed.
The High Representative and the Ministers also reportedly underlined the need for a meaningful re-engagement in substantive negotiations on the key aspects of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement under the auspices of the Co-Chairs. According to Mr Borrell, there is also an urgent need to resume OSCE monitoring on the ground as soon as conditions allow.
The High Representative stressed his readiness to remain engaged with the two parties and tasked the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Toivo Klaar, to continue to remain in close contact with the two sides and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)