Artsakh says introducing a cease-fire control mechanism urgent

(Armradio) – The attempt by the Azerbaijani side to initiate an escalation of tension serves as yet another evidence of the urgency of introducing an international mechanism of control over the cease-fire in the area of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict, the Artsakh Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

As part of these efforts, it is necessary to finally start the implementation of the agreements reached in Vienna and St. Petersburg in 2016 on investigating possible cease-fire violations, as well as on expansion of the office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office with a view to increasing their monitoring capacities,” the statement.

Such a mechanism will allow not only to promptly respond to possible incidents, but also avoid mutual accusations of violations of the cease-fire regime and prevent the escalation of tension under false pretexts, the Ministry said.

The comments come after an Armenian soldier was killed as a result of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side.

“This premeditated killing was preceded by a disinformation campaign with fabricated accusations against Artsakh of alleged shooting of positions of the Azerbaijani army, which resulted in the death of an Azerbaijani serviceman,” the Foreign Ministry said.

“It is obvious that this disinformation campaign by Azerbaijan aimed to create the necessary information background for the subsequent violation of the cease-fire. Both episodes are links in the same chain and may indicate Azerbaijan’s unwillingness to comply with its obligations to strengthen the cease-fire,” it added.