US Secretary of State calls on to maintain ceasefire within Nagorno Karabakh conflict

By Trend

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo makes a statement on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Trend reports citing the Pompeo’s Twitter.

Pompeo said that the US calls on sides to the conflict to implement their commitments to a ceasefire as agreed and cease targeting civilian areas.

“We deplore the loss of human life and remain committed to a peaceful settlement,” he wrote.

Armenian Armed Forces launched a large-scale military attack on positions of the Azerbaijani army on the front line, using large-caliber weapons, mortars, and artillery on Sept. 27.

Azerbaijan responded with a counter-offensive along the entire front. As a result of retaliation, Azerbaijani troops liberated a number of territories previously occupied by Armenia, as well as take important, strategic heights under control.

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, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.