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ENVOYS URGE RESTRAINT AFTER KARABAKH CLASHES
Matt Robinson
Reuters
Sept 6 2010
TBILISI, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Envoys in the Caucasus conflict over
rebel Nagorno-Karabakh called for restraint on Monday after deadly
clashes between Azeri and Armenian forces and said they would step
up mediation.
At least four soldiers have died in skirmishes in the past week
near the mountain region, where Christian ethnic Armenians backed
by Armenia threw off rule by Muslim Azerbaijan as the Soviet Union
headed towards collapse two decades ago.
The unresolved conflict remains a constant threat to stability in
the strategic South Caucasus, a transit region for oil and gas from
the Caspian Sea and Central Asia to the West.
Russia, French and American mediators of the Organisation for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said they deplored the "useless loss
of life".
They said they would consider how to strengthen the ceasefire, hold
discussions on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly this month
and assess the humanitarian situation on the ground, before an OSCE
summit in Kazakhstan in December.
"During this period of intense activity, the Co-Chairs urge all parties
to respect strictly the cease-fire and to exercise restraint on the
ground," the so-called Minsk Group co-chairmen said in a statement.
"In response to the most recent incidents along the Line of Contact,
they also strongly condemn any violation of the ceasefire, in
particular incursions across the Line of Contact."
Armenian-backed forces have held Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding
Azeri districts forming a land corridor with Armenia since a ceasefire
was declared in 1994, but a peace deal remains elusive. An estimated
30,000 people died during the war and more than a million were
displaced.
Reported skirmishes appear to have intensified over the past 12
months, and oil-producing Azerbaijan -- its military spending hugely
outstripping that of Armenia -- frequently threatens to take back
the heavily fortified region by force.
Both sides have accused the other of launching "sabotage" attacks
across the front lines over the past week. Four Azeri soldiers have
been confirmed killed.
Renewed conflict would have devastating consequences for the region
and could draw in neighbouring powers Russia and Turkey. Failure to
reach a settlement was behind the collapse in April of an historic
deal to mend ties between Turkey and Armenia.
Azerbaijan hosts oil majors including BP, ExxonMobil and Chevron,
and the BP-led Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline that ships 850,000
barrels per day of high quality Azeri crude to the Mediterranean,
skirting Nagorno-Karabakh.
From: A. Papazian
Matt Robinson
Reuters
Sept 6 2010
TBILISI, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Envoys in the Caucasus conflict over
rebel Nagorno-Karabakh called for restraint on Monday after deadly
clashes between Azeri and Armenian forces and said they would step
up mediation.
At least four soldiers have died in skirmishes in the past week
near the mountain region, where Christian ethnic Armenians backed
by Armenia threw off rule by Muslim Azerbaijan as the Soviet Union
headed towards collapse two decades ago.
The unresolved conflict remains a constant threat to stability in
the strategic South Caucasus, a transit region for oil and gas from
the Caspian Sea and Central Asia to the West.
Russia, French and American mediators of the Organisation for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said they deplored the "useless loss
of life".
They said they would consider how to strengthen the ceasefire, hold
discussions on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly this month
and assess the humanitarian situation on the ground, before an OSCE
summit in Kazakhstan in December.
"During this period of intense activity, the Co-Chairs urge all parties
to respect strictly the cease-fire and to exercise restraint on the
ground," the so-called Minsk Group co-chairmen said in a statement.
"In response to the most recent incidents along the Line of Contact,
they also strongly condemn any violation of the ceasefire, in
particular incursions across the Line of Contact."
Armenian-backed forces have held Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding
Azeri districts forming a land corridor with Armenia since a ceasefire
was declared in 1994, but a peace deal remains elusive. An estimated
30,000 people died during the war and more than a million were
displaced.
Reported skirmishes appear to have intensified over the past 12
months, and oil-producing Azerbaijan -- its military spending hugely
outstripping that of Armenia -- frequently threatens to take back
the heavily fortified region by force.
Both sides have accused the other of launching "sabotage" attacks
across the front lines over the past week. Four Azeri soldiers have
been confirmed killed.
Renewed conflict would have devastating consequences for the region
and could draw in neighbouring powers Russia and Turkey. Failure to
reach a settlement was behind the collapse in April of an historic
deal to mend ties between Turkey and Armenia.
Azerbaijan hosts oil majors including BP, ExxonMobil and Chevron,
and the BP-led Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline that ships 850,000
barrels per day of high quality Azeri crude to the Mediterranean,
skirting Nagorno-Karabakh.
From: A. Papazian