Although the Council of Europe has no a direct mandate, the parliamentary diplomacy can help bring closer the positions of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict parties, says President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Pedro Agramunt, Trend reports.
Addressing the spring session of PACE in Strasbourg on April 18th, he said the recent escalation of the situation on the line of contact between Armenian and Azerbaijani armies has led to numerous casualties among civilians as well.
"The territorial integrity of 47 member states [of the Council of Europe] should be respected," he added. "I condemn violence. We should be cautious to the highest extent in this matter and avoid excessive criticism."
Agramunt noted that both sides should ensure the de-escalation of the situation and stop violence.
"International law provides a legal basis for a peaceful settlement of the conflict," said the PACE president. "Armenia and Azerbaijan should fulfill their commitments under the international law and achieve a peaceful settlement to the conflict."
He added that this issue will remain a primary topic on the organization's agenda.
Recall, on the night of April 2 all frontier positions of Azerbaijan were exposed to heavy fire from large-caliber weapons, mortars, grenade launchers and guns. In addition, Azerbaijani settlements near the front line, densely populated by civilians, were shelled.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20% of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US, are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
