OSCE envoys "take note of" Azerbaijan's capture of Armenian troops

OSCE envoys

PanARMENIAN.Net - The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group have "taken note of the reported detention of six Armenian soldiers" by the Azerbaijani military on May 27, the mediators said in a statement on Friday, May 28.

Igor Popov of the Russia, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States held consultations with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Peter Maurer and UN High Commissioner of Refugees Filippo Grandi in Geneva 27 and 28 May. The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office (PRCiO) Andrzej Kasprzyk also participated in the meetings.

"The co-chairs take note of the reported detention of six Armenian soldiers on May 27 and call for the release of all prisoners of war and other detainees on an all for all basis. The co-chairs underscore the obligation to treat detainees in accordance with international humanitarian law. The co-chairs strongly urge the sides to lift all restrictions on humanitarian access to Nagorno-Karabakh immediately, and call on the sides to implement in full the commitments they undertook under the November 9 ceasefire declaration," they said in a statement.

Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General, said earlier that Azerbaijan is hindering the organization's humanitarian mission to Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh).

"The co-chairs also note with concern several recent reports of incidents on the non-demarcated Armenia-Azerbaijan border. The use or threat of force to resolve border disputes is not acceptable. We call on both sides to take immediate steps, including the relocation of troops, to de-escalate the situation and to begin negotiations to delimitate and demarcate the border peacefully. The co-hairs stand ready to assist in facilitating this process."

Having in mind the terms of their OSCE mandate and the aspirations of all the people of the region for a stable, peaceful, and prosperous future, the Co-Chairs again called on the sides to reengage under their auspices at the earliest opportunity.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament, Belgium, France, India, Iran, United States, Greece, Canada and the Netherlands have expressed support for the territorial integrity of Armenia and/or urged Azerbaijan to pull back its forces from Armenian soil.

On the morning of May 12, the armed forces of Azerbaijan violated the border of Armenia in the southern province of Syunik, advancing 3.5 kilometers and surrounding Sev Lake, which is situated on the border between the two countries but is predominantly a part of Armenia. On May 13, the Azerbaijani military committed more border violations against Armenia, advancing near Vardenis (Gegharkunik province) and Sisian (Syunik province). One Armenian serviceman was killed in Azerbaijan’s shooting on May 25, while six others were captured on May 27.

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