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Destroyed military vehicle in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (material from the government of Armenia)
Photo: AP
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) has been alarmed by the flare-up of the military conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region in the Caucasus.
"I am alarmed by the news of renewed, massive clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan along the entire lines of the conflict," said Maas.
There are already reports of civilian casualties on both sides.
"I call on both parties to the conflict to immediately stop all fighting, and especially the shelling of villages and towns," said Maas.
The conflict over the region in the Caucasus can only be resolved through negotiation.
Armenia and Azerbaijan must "end the violent acts immediately and embark on substantial negotiations," said Maas.
Escalation since morning
In the morning, according to Armenian sources, the Azerbaijani military launched bombing raids on the region.
Thereupon Armenia declared general mobilization and declared martial law.
The escalation is the worst in decades.
According to official information from the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh, Stepanakert, around ten Armenian soldiers were shot dead.
Azerbaijan also announced that there were dead and injured in their own ranks.
At noon, the Azerbaijani government announced military successes: "We have liberated six villages, five in the Fisuli district and one in the Djebrail district," said a Defense Ministry spokesman for the AFP news agency.
The two former Soviet republics have been fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh for decades.
The region is located in Azerbaijan but is controlled by Armenia.
Appeal for de-escalation
In addition to Maas, the EU and the Council of Europe also called for an immediate end to the fighting.
"The European Union calls for an immediate end to the fighting, for de-escalation and for strict monitoring of the ceasefire," said EU Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell.
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejcinovic Buric said that both countries should exercise restraint.
"When joining the Council of Europe, both countries committed themselves to resolving the conflict by peaceful means, and this obligation must be strictly observed."
Pejcinovic Buric called on both sides to do everything in their power to protect human lives.
Turkey pledged its support to Azerbaijan.
"We will support our Azerbaijani brothers with all our means in their struggle to protect their territorial integrity," said Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.
He accused Armenia of threatening peace and stability in the Caucasus with his "aggression".
The completely impoverished Armenia relies on Russia as a protective power.
A joint military maneuver with Moscow had only ended at the weekend.
Azerbaijan had repeatedly announced that it would take back the Nagorno-Karabakh region with military force if necessary.
The country had massively upgraded its military in recent years.
Since 1994 the USA, France and Russia have been trying to mediate in the Minsk group initiated by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
At that time a ceasefire was agreed.
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sms / dpa / AFP / Reuters