UK urges Armenia, Azerbaijan to engage in dialogue

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) of the United Kingdom is calling on Armenia and Azerbaijan to end ceasefire violations and engage in dialogue.

In a statement released on Tuesday, July 15, the FCO said the UK is deeply concerned by recent ceasefire violations on the international border between Armenia and Azerbaijan and greatly regrets the loss of life.

"We call on both sides to respect the ceasefire and engage in dialogue to de-escalate the situation and avoid further casualties," said the statement.

"We urge both sides to show restraint and refrain from rhetoric that may increase tensions further.

"We reiterate our support for the negotiation process facilitated by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group aimed at securing a peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"The continued violence threatens regional stability and prosperity, and highlights the urgent need for formal negotiations to resume."

On July 12, Azerbaijan launched two failed infiltration attempts on the border with Armenia whose troops immediately identified the saboteurs and thwarted them back to their positions. Since the next morning, the Azerbaijani military has been firing on the Armenian positions, also using large caliber grenade launchers and combat drones to target civilian homes in several border settlements. Four servicemen of the Armenian army have been killed, 20 others have been wounded, while Azerbaijan has reported 11 deaths.