U.S. concerned over ceasefire violations on Azerbaijani, Armenian troops’ contact line
By Rashid Shirinov
The United States is deeply concerned over the recent violations of the ceasefire on the line of contact between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops over the last week, which have resulted in multiple casualties.
“We urge the sides to avoid escalation and encourage immediate consideration of measures to reduce tensions along the line of contact and the international border between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” the U.S. Department of State has said in a message.
“In their statement released on June 19, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs called upon the parties to re-engage in negotiations on substance, in good faith, and with political will. The Co-Chairs further underscored that such negotiations are the only way to bring a lasting peace to the people of the region, who expect and deserve progress toward settlement of the conflict,” said the Department of State, adding that the United States continues to engage intensely with the sides.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.
While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign state with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.
Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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