Russia calls Armenia and Azerbaijan for an immediate ceasefire

Moscow-Sana

Russia renewed its call on Armenia and Azerbaijan for an immediate ceasefire in the Nagorno Karabakh region and for a return to dialogue.

This came according to Sputnik Agency during separate telephone conversations held today by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jehun Piramov and Armenian Zurab Munatsakyanian.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the talks "dealt with developments in the situation in the conflict zone in Karabakh, where the Russian side expressed its deep concern about the continuation of large-scale hostilities."

The statement indicated that Lavrov called on the two sides to an immediate cease-fire and stop the escalation of tension and provocative and hard-line rhetoric, stressing the need to return to the negotiating table.

The statement indicated Russia's readiness to provide a Moscow platform for organizing contacts, including holding a regular meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia.

The situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region witnessed a sudden military escalation last Sunday, while the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides exchanged accusations about the reasons for the escalation. These developments came two months after a similar escalation in the border region between Armenia and Azerbaijan in mid-July, where the two parties exchanged accusations of causing it.