Secretary-General Urges Parties to De-escalate Violence along Armenian-Azerbaijani Border, Continue Dialogue towards Peaceful Political Solution

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General shares the deep concern expressed by the Co-Chairs of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group and other international partners regarding the upsurge in tension and violence along the Line of Contact and the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.  This has resulted in numerous casualties in recent days.  He urges all parties to respect the ceasefire agreement, refrain from further violence and commit themselves to immediate de-escalation and continuing dialogue in the pursuit of a rapid and peaceful political solution.

The Secretary-General expresses his full support for the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and all parties working to resolve this dangerous situation and pursue a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.