Friday, July 30 2021 15:34

ArmInfo.Joint statement by the Chair of the Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus, MEP Marina Kaljurand, the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Armenia, MEP Andrey Kovatchev, and the European Parliament's Standing  Rapporteur on Azerbaijan, MEP Zeljana Zovko made a joint statement on  the deadly clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which reads as  follows:

"We deplore the death of three Armenian servicemen on 28 July in  clashes with Azerbaijani forces at Armenia's Gegharkunik province  border after Armenian positions and several villages were reportedly  fired at since early morning, and express our deep condolences to  their families Unfortunately, this is just the latest in a series of  incidents or provocations over the last months, including violations  of the inter-state border that began with the incursion of  Azerbaijani troops into Armenian territory on 12 May. The recent  exchange of fire at the Nakhchivan border, where another Armenian  soldier died, was no less concerning. 

"We call on both sides to strictly observe the ceasefire and refrain  from any provocations.  Any possible disagreements about the border  must be addressed through negotiations in a border delimitation and  demarcation process, not through the use of force and unilateral  actions. All forces need to pull back to positions held before 12 May  and in line with the provisions of the Tripartite Ceasefire  Statement. To de-escalate the situation, it is of utmost importance  that inflammatory rhetoric ceases immediately. In this context, we  condemn in particular recent statements by Azerbaijani  representatives regarding so- called 'West Zangezur' and referring to  the territory of the Republic of Armenia as Azerbaijani 'ancestral  land'. Such statements are highly irresponsible and threaten to  undermine regional security further.  "We recall the EU's commitment  to support confidence-building measures and the addressing of any  issues at the negotiating table, including through the resumption of  negotiations on a lasting conflict settlement and the future status  of the Nagorno- Karabakh region."