Tuesday, May 30 2017 17:07

ArmInfo. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group pointed out for the first time that it was Azerbaijan that violated the ceasefire agreement and opened fire.  Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian stated this at a joint  press conference with the OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier on  May 30 in Yerevan.

According to him, Azerbaijan opposed the implementation of the  mechanisms of trust, because it did not want to give the OSCE MG  co-chairs or relevant participants in these mechanisms, to indicate  who violates the ceasefire regime, who first opens fire. "However,  this is obvious without these mechanisms, as evidenced by the last  statement of the Minsk mediators. But this is not the first address  statement of the co- chairs. They repeatedly spoke with targeted  statements directed to Azerbaijan, that there is no need to aggravate  the situation in the region, it is necessary to reaffirm the  commitment to the peaceful settlement of the conflict, to respect the  mandate of the mediators, to refrain from attempts to transfer the  settlement process to other formats, and to introduce mechanisms for  investigating the incidents. This list can be continued. Even if  there are indirect statements, it immediately becomes clear to whom  they are addressed," said the diplomat.

He recalled, that Armenia and Artsakh were always for the  implementation of term less three parted agreement of 1994-95, unlike  Azerbaijan. According to him, mediators did not only make statements  but also sent official letters calling on to respect the agreements  reached. "  

On May 18, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs issued a statement in   connection with the missile strike struck on May 15 by the   Azerbaijani Armed Forces on the military site of Nagorno- Karabakh:   "According to information collected from several reliable sources, on   May 15 the Azerbaijani armed forces fired a missile strike on   military equipment on the opposite side of the contact line. From the   evening of May 16 until May 17, the Armenian armed forces struck back  with mortars of various calibers. These actions by both sides are a   serious violation of the ceasefire and are of concern. There are   conflicting reports about the goals of these recent attacks, as well   as on the victims and the damage done. The co-chairs of the Minsk   Group and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office   continue to collect additional data and analytical materials in order   to obtain more complete and accurate information on the current   situation.  The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs condemn these recent   violations of the ceasefire regime and urge the parties to take all   necessary measures to prevent further escalation of the conflict."