Escalation in the region resulted from Azerbaijan’s actions: Co-Chairs
Group Co-Chairs Ambassadors Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane Visconti of France, and Richard Hoagland of the United States of America released the following statement on May 18 regarding the escalation in the region which resulted from Azerbaijan’s actions, OSCE told.
According to information collected from multiple reliable sources, on 15 May, Azerbaijani armed forces fired a missile across the Line of Contact, striking military equipment. On the evening of 16 May and continuing into 17 May, Armenian armed forces retaliated with mortar fire of various calibres. These actions by both sides represent significant violations of the ceasefire and are cause for alarm.
There are contradictory reports regarding the targets of these recent strikes, as well as about casualties sustained and damages inicted. The Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office continue to collect further data and analysis to gain more complete and accurate information about the current situation.
The Co-Chairs condemn these recent ceasefire violations and call upon the sides to take all necessary measures to prevent any further escalation in the conict zone.
