29 May 2021, 08:22
EU supports Pashinyan's idea of observers on Azerbaijani border
The Foreign Service of the European Union (EU) has welcomed the offer to place observers on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, urging the parties to start talks on the border delimitation.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Nikol Pashinyan had suggested that Armenia and Azerbaijan should simultaneously withdraw their troops from the border and allow international observers to be deployed there.
In mid-May, the Armenian-Azerbaijani border conflict escalated. On May 13, Yerevan stated that Azerbaijani militaries entered the territory of the Syunik and Gegarkunik Regions of Armenia. In their turn, Azerbaijani authorities claim that the border guards only changed their deployment, staying within the Lachin and Kelbadjar Districts of Azerbaijan.
The EU's Foreign Service (EFS) has called for an immediate de-escalation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. "The EFS urges both parties to refrain from further military deployment and military action," the EFS says in its statement.
All the troops should withdraw to the positions they held before May 12, 2021, and the parties to the conflict should start negotiations on the border delimitation and demarcation, says the document posted on the EFS' website.
The EFS has also announced the need to release all the prisoners of war (POWs) and detainees. "We welcome all the efforts aimed at reducing tensions, including offers for a possible international observer mission," the statement reads.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 28, 2021 at 09:00 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.