YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland supported the mediation mission of the OSCE Minsk Group over the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, press service of the CoE told “Armenpress”.

“The Council of Europe does not have a direct role in the negotiations, and always supports the OSCE Minsk-Group. However, we are concerned about the humanitarian aspects of the conflict”, Jagland said, stating that he is aware that the violations of the ceasefire on 29 December resulted in casualties, and that the body of an Azerbaijani serviceman killed in the fighting still remains in the Armenian side.

“I urge the parties to respect the ceasefire, and I fully support the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group’s call for the return, without delay, of human remains - in accordance with the agreements of the Astrakhan Summit of 2010 - bearing in mind the humanitarian nature of this issue”, he said.