We are seriously concerned over the escalation of tensions in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. The ceasefire regime was repeatedly violated in the past few days. On March 5, an armed incident caused fatalities among the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides.

We are insistently urging the sides to display restraint and to de-escalate the situation. We reaffirm the need to unfailingly honour the provisions of the Statement by the Leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia of November 9, 2020 on a complete ceasefire and the cessation of all hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.

Any issues related to ensuring security and activities in the Russian Peacekeeping Contingent’s zone of responsibility should be resolved peacefully. For this purpose, the sides should maintain contacts under the auspices of the Russian Peacekeeping Contingent.

The incident once again confirms that it is imperative for Baku and Yerevan to resume talks as soon as possible, while implementing the provisions of trilateral statements by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia of November 9, 2020, January 11 and November 26, 2021, and October 31, 2022. This also concerns measures to unblock economic and transport communications in the region, delimit the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and draft a peace treaty.