OSCE concerned over ceasefire violations on contact line

The OSCE is concerned about the recent incident on the contact line between the Armenian and Azerbaijani troops, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, told reporters in Baku on Wednesday.

"I am and the OSCE concerned about recent incident on the contact line between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops. There is no retaliation and I would like to see put in place investigation mechanism through which the OSCE will look at the activities when they occur," Gilmore said. "Ultimately, we would want to achieve this and I hope that this will contribute to peaceful and negotiated resolution of the conflict."

It should be recalled that on June 5 Armenian sabotage group's efforts to enter Azerbaijani Armed Forces' positions in Ashagi Eskipara village in the Gazakh region failed and it retreated by suffering losses.

As a result of the fight, 4 soldiers of Azerbaijani Armed Forces were killed.

Another Azerbaijani soldier was killed as a result of fire opened from nameless heights in Gazakh region.

During his visit to Baku, which began on Wednesday, Gilmore will hold meetings with Azerbaijani officials, as well as leaders of political parties. OSCE activity in the region, cooperation between OSCE and Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and other issues will be discussed at the meeting.

Previously, Gilmore visited Georgia and Armenia as part of his South Caucasus tour.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the US - are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.


/Trend/