Italy concerns over escalation of tension on Armenian-Azerbaijani frontline
By Sara Rajabova
Italy has voiced a concern over the aggravation of the situation on the contact line of Armenian and Azerbaijani troops.
Italian Foreign Ministry has released a statement on the recent escalation of tension on the frontline, calling the sides to restrain from use of force, AzerTag state news agency reported.
"As partners at the European Union, Italy expresses concern over escalation of tension on the line of contact between Armenian and Azerbaijani armies, and encouraging the parties to refrain from using force," the Ministry said.
Tensions along the frontline were aggravated as Armenian armed forces attacked Azerbaijani positions. Armenia began to escalate tensions on the border areas on July 31. Sporadic fighting has continued ever since. Fourteen Azerbaijani servicemen were killed and several others injured during the clashes between two sides. Armenia hasn't released yet the exact number of casualties.
The Italian side expressed hope for settlement of the conflict with political negotiations after the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents meeting in Sochi on August 10.
It said Italy backs negotiations and efforts towards settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through mediation of the OSCE Minsk group.
"As the EU, Italy also backs peaceful settlement of the conflict, according to the rules and principles of the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act," the Ministry said.
For over two decades, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict which emerged over Armenia's territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor.
Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. A fragile ceasefire has been in place since 1994, but long-standing efforts by U.S., Russian and French mediators have been largely fruitless so far.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on its pullout from the neighboring country's territories.