Federica Mogherini urged to strengthen the ceasefire and de-escalate the situation between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan

The High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini spoke this morning with the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov, and with the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian concerning the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

According to press statement, Mogherini “urged the immediate de-escalation of violence, an end to the targeting of civilians and strict observance of the ceasefire by all parties”, adding that “large-scale conflict is in the interest of no-one”. “The conflict requires a comprehensive and peaceful solution, not a military one”, - Mogherini emphasized.

High Commissioner also communicated to the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, that “all parties” (including the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh) “must take the necessary steps to create an environment conducive to successful negotiations, including avoiding actions and statements which could further complicate the already complex environment”.

Spoke with the Foreign Ministers of #Armenia and #Azerbaijan to urge immediate de-escalation on #NagornoKarabakh https://t.co/bvckj0EptS

— Federica Mogherini (@FedericaMog) April 5, 2016

Earlier in the past hour the OSCE Minsk Group met in Vienna and issued statement jointly with the OSCE Troika. “The deterioration of the situation on the ground demonstrates the need for an immediate negotiation, under the auspices of the Co-chairs, on a comprehensive settlement”, - reads the statement issued by OSCE Minsk Group together with the OSCE Troika representatives, convening an emergency meeting in Vienna today (around 3PM, CEST). Earlier, talking to the Russian Interfax news agency, Ani Sargsyan, the spokeswoman of Foreign Minister of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic confirmed the reports that OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are expected in Stepanakert, but declined to provide details.

ԵԱՀԿ Մինսկի խմբի համանախագահները կայցելեն ԼՂՀ։ ժամկետների մասին կհաղորդվի լրացուցիչ

— Ani Sargsyan (@anie_sarg) April 5, 2016

Reports of regional visit by the OSCE MG co-Chairmen were also confirmed by the Armenian Foreign Ministry.

.@OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will visit #Yerevan on April 9. They will be received by the President and the Foreign Minister of #Armenia.

— MFA of Armenia (@MFAofArmenia) April 5, 2016

According to confirmed reports, affirmed by both Stepanakert and Baku, ceasefire has been established along the Line of Contact today, April 5, as of 12:00 local time.

Peace talks between Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan have been facilitated by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe since March 1992 within the frameworks of so-called Minsk Group, co-Chaired by Russia, United States and France since mid-1990s.

Ceasefire agreement between Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, facilitated by Russia's representative to the CSCE/OSCE Minsk Group Vladimir Kazimirov, was signed on May 5, 1994, which had been maintained with only sporadic violations along the Line of Contact and international border till the latest Azerbaijani large scale offensive in the night of April 2, 2016. Over the last two years Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, the OSCE Minsk Group co-Chairs and over 80 U.S. Congressmen proposed (Royce-Engel bill) concrete measures to de-escalate situation and establish ceasefire monitoring equipments along the borders. Azerbaijan has been repeatedly rejecting these calls.