French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed regret for the “disproportionate” retaliatory strike by Azerbaijan which killed Armenian soldiers.

Macron made the remarks in a statement made before a meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the Élysée Palace on Wednesday, February 21.

Earlier in February, four Armenian soldiers were killed and a fifth wounded when Azerbaijan opened fire on Armenian positions from across border.

“During our meeting we will be able to talk about the discussions aimed at the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The recent incidents in Syunik prove that the danger of escalation remains real,” Macron said.

“France regrets that an Azerbaijani was wounded as a result of the shooting on February 12, which was also accepted by the Armenian leadership with full transparency, but France expresses regret for the disproportionate retaliatory strike by Azerbaijan, as a result of which the Armenian side suffered four deaths and one wounded. France will continue to support efforts towards a just and lasting peace. We are convinced that this can only be achieved by respecting international law, sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders.”