UN concerned over rising tension in Nagorno-Karabakh
YEREVAN, March 29. /ARKA/. Reports of rising tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh are worrying, and the UN welcomes trilateral efforts to reduce tensions, as well as by the OSCE Minsk Group, Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-Genera said, TASS reported.
"We are concerned about reports of tensions in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. We welcome the trilateral de-escalation efforts and by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs," he said.
Dujarric added that the UN "calls on all parties to refrain from any actions and statements that could lead to an escalation of the situation," as well as to resolve all issues "through direct dialogue."
On March 24 Azerbaijani troops invaded the Armenian –populated village of Parukh in the Askeran region of Nagorno-Karabakh, triggering deadly fighting with Karabakh Armenian forces. According to Nagorno-Karabakh defense ministry, at least 5 Azerbaijani soldiers and three Armenian soldiers were killed and many others wounded. Azerbaijani troops partially withdrew from the area after the intervention of Russian peacekeepers stationed in Karabakh.
Earlier this month, Yerevan asked the U.S., Russian and French co-chairs of the Minsk Group to mediate Armenian-Azerbaijani talks on a peace treaty. -0-
