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EU expresses concern at incident along line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops

09 June 2012 09:52 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Dunal Gurbanov â€“ APA. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton expressed concern at the reported serious armed incidents during the last three days along the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the Line of Contact between the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops.

Her press secretary Michael Mann reports that Catherine Ashton is very concerned on information about serious armed incidents on 4, 5 and 6 June along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the Line of Contact and deeply regrets the loss of human life.

"The High Representative calls on both sides strictly to respect the ceasefire and exercise restraint on the ground and in public statements in order to prevent a further escalation of the situation, which has been deteriorating during the last several months. Uses of force or threat for that as well as the status quo do not contribute to a resolution of the persisting conflict.

These incidents highlight the importance of a functioning incident investigation mechanism as proposed by the OSCE. Moreover, they reinforce the need for progress in the negotiation process",- the report says.

The High Representative urged Armenia and Azerbaijan, as partner countries, to step up their efforts to reach agreement on the Madrid principles, as a basis for peace, and to fully implement the commitments made by their Presidents in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.

"The EU reiterates its full support of the OSCE Minsk Group and the efforts of its co-chairs aimed at a peaceful conflict resolution", - the statement says.