CIS Council of FMs concerned over tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh
By Aynur Karimova
A meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers kicked off in Moscow on April 8. After discussing various aspects of development of multifaceted cooperation and deepening of foreign policy coordination within the CIS framework, the top diplomats from CIS countries exchanged views on important regional and global issues.
The renewed hostilities in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region and the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict resolution were high on the agenda of the Moscow meeting.
CIS Chairman of the Executive Committee, Sergey Lebedev, addressing a press conference following the meeting, said that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov informed the participants about his meetings held in the South Caucasus, while Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian voiced their positions.
All the sides expressed their satisfaction with the termination of hostilities, Lebedev said, emphasizing that the CIS foreign ministers expressed hope that the parties will return to the negotiating table with an aim to finally resolve this difficult conflict.
In the statement issued following the meeting, the CIS states noted that they have been following with great concern the reports on hostilities along the contact line in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, which have led to casualties, including among civilians.
"We urge the conflict parties to strictly observe the cessation of hostilities and to show restraint in order to prevent new casualties," the statement reads. "All the possible measures should be taken as soon as possible to stabilize the situation and intensify efforts for peaceful settlement of the conflict, based on the principles set by the OSCE Minsk Group."
The situation on the line of contact of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Armed Forces aggravated on April 2 after the Armenian military units in the occupied lands started shelling Azerbaijan’s positions.
To protect civilian population, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces launched counter attacks and as a result, the Azerbaijani troops retook hills around the village of Talish, as well as Seysulan settlement, and also took over Lele Tepe hill located in the direction of Fizuli region.
The hostilities renewed in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan on April 4, as the Armenian side continued to shell the Azerbaijani positions although the Azerbaijani side announced unilateral ceasefire on April 3.
The Azerbaijani Army destroyed about 370 enemy soldiers since the start of the hostilities, according to the defense ministry.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have agreed to cease operations on the line of contact starting from 12.00, April 5, as a meeting between the Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijan Armed Forces Colonel General Najmaddin Sadikov and the Chief of General Staff of Armenian Armed Forces Colonel General Yuri Khachaturyan took place by the mediation of the Russian side.
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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova
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