OSCE PA Vice President,Special Rep. for South Caucasus calls for ceasefire and return to negotiations after Azeri attack

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vice-President and Special Representative on South Caucasus Pere Joan Pons joined international calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, as well as for Armenia and Azerbaijan to return to negotiations to prevent the loss of further lives.

“Our Assembly is following with great concern the armed clashes at the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Military actions must cease and both countries should return to the path of constructive talks for the conclusion of a comprehensive peace treaty. These ongoing clashes do not just harm any progress made over the past two years but have already needlessly cost the lives of over one hundred persons, including civilians, from both Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Pons stated.

He further expressed his support for thestatements made by OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, and OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmidcalling for an immediate ceasefire.

Pons added: “The guiding principles of our organization foresee the settlement of disputes amongst our States by peaceful means and we should not resort to forceful measures which cause further destruction and prolonged human suffering. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly continues to stand ready to support all initiatives that seek to mediate and support the dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, aimed at achieving long-lasting peace between both countries and within the South Caucasus.”

On September 13, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces launched a major attack on Armenia from several directions, bombarding both military and civilian infrastructures with rocket-artillery and drone strikes.