March 14, 2008 - 14:53 AMT
EP calls on Karabakh conflict sides to resume peaceful talks
Calling on Azerbaijan and Armenia to avoid violence and ill-considered steps, the European Parliament issued a statement on occasion of recent tensions at the line of contact of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops in Nagorno Karabakh. "The European Parliament regrets for deaths during the ceasefire violation and calls on the conflicting parties to restore peaceful talks," the statement reads.

Touching on the post-election situation in Armenia, the European Parliament called on the RA authorities to lift the state of emergency and refrain from violence, the Azeri Press Agency reports.

On March 4 early morning Azeri special forces attacked a position of the NKR Defense Army near Levonarkh settlement of Mardakert region. The attack was rebuffed and status quo restored. A crisis monitoring due on March 7 by request of the NKR MFA was postponed through Azerbaijan's fault.

A repeated ceasefire violation was foxed on March 7.