27/03/23 (Agence Europe) – The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, expressed concern on 25 March about the continuing crisis around the still-blocked Lachin corridor (see EUROPE 13142/7), the recent casualties, sharp increase in tensions on the ground, and the accompanying negative rhetoric. In separate telephone conversations, Mr Michel urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan “to look for compromise solutions and to refrain from any actions that could lead to risks of escalation”, the European Council said in a statement. According to the statement, Mr Michel also reaffirmed the EU’s “strong commitment” to help the parties achieve “a long-awaited normalisation and sustainable peace”. In both calls, the leaders agreed to stay in close contact. (CG)