HOSTILITIES IN KARABAKH MUST END IMMEDIATELY, EU URGES

Thu 04 August 2022:

The European Union on Wednesday called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities” between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“It is essential to de-escalate, fully respect the ceasefire and return to the negotiating table to seek negotiated solutions,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell’s spokesman said in a statement.

Azerbaijan announced earlier on Wednesday it had taken control of several strategic heights in the disputed region in a new escalation that killed three soldiers.

Azerbaijan launches retaliatory operation against Armenian forces

#EU demanded an “immediate cessation” of hostilities between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces.#Azerbaijan #Armenian pic.twitter.com/aFgJavABXj

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) August 3, 2022

“On the morning of August 3, members of illegal Armenian armed detachments in the territory of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily deployed, were subjected to intensive fire from the Azerbaijan Army positions stationed in direction of the Lachin region,” the ministry said in a statement.

The retaliatory move comes after an Azerbaijani soldier was killed “as a result of the terrorist and sabotage action carried out by illegal Armenian forces this morning,” it said.

The ministry said Azerbaijan “took relevant measures” and launched a counter operation after Armenian forces tried to seize the Kyrghgiz hill and establish new combat positions.

“The European Union remains committed to help overcome tensions and continue its engagement towards sustainable peace and stability in the South Caucasus,” Borrell’s spokesman added.

Relations between the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

Their most recent clashes were in September 2020, during which Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages that were occupied by Armenia for nearly three decades.

Six weeks of fighting in the autumn of 2020 claimed more than 6,500 lives and ended with a Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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