U.S. ambassador to OSCE urges Yerevan and Baku to abide by ceasefire

U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) James Gilmore called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to immediately fulfill their commitments under a ceasefire agreement in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.

"We call on Armenia and Azerbaijan to strictly adhere to the humanitarian ceasefire agreed to in Moscow on October 10 and reaffirmed on October 17 and October 25. We urge the sides to return immediately to the negotiating table under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs.  We call on external parties to urge both sides to adhere to the humanitarian ceasefire, take the steps agreed to in Geneva, and return to the negotiating table. Again, we urge the sides to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric and actions," Gilmore said to the Permanent Council, Vienna on November 5.

The diplomat added that the U.S. condemns in the strongest terms any attacks resulting in civilian casualties, regardless of where they occur, and calls on the sides to take urgent measures to ensure civilians and non-military objects are protected.

Stressing that there is no military solution to the Karabakh conflict, he said that it can be resolved only through a political settlement acceptable to the parties.

Noting that the toll this long-standing conflict has taken on the people and countries of the region is far too high, Gilmore stressed that the U.S., as a Co-Chair of the Minsk Group, will remain engaged to help the sides reach a comprehensive negotiated settlement to this long-running conflict. "But it is up to the sides to demonstrate the necessary political will to make tough compromises," the U.S. ambassador to OSCE concluded.