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The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States of America, and Pierre Andrieu of France), together with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, express their serious concerns about Armenian and Azerbaijani forces using mortars and heavy weapons in and around civilian areas, according to a statement available on the website of OSCE.

“The use of such weapons represents an unacceptable escalation in the conflict. We express our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and recognize the casualties on each side of the international border and Line of Contact. We appeal to the sides in the strongest possible terms to avoid civilian casualties. The sides have an obligation under the Geneva Conventions to protect the safety and security of non-combatants.

We regret that these incidents took place on the eve of the agreed meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers in New York. We expect the Ministers to have a serious discussion on the escalation of violence and the issues surrounding a negotiated settlement. While we are unable to determine with certainty how the violence originated since each side accuses the other, the parties should work towards an OSCE investigation mechanism as discussed between the Presidents.

We will continue our work with the sides at the highest levels to de-escalate tensions and advance a lasting and peaceful settlement,” the statement says.

Two female residents of Berdavan village in Tavush province of Armenia were killed as a result of Azerbaijani shooting on September 24. A spokesman for the Armenian police, Ashot Aharonyan, confirmed this information when contacted by the correspondent of Panorama.am. Prior to that, information was received that an elderly woman who was a resident of Paravakar village in Armenia’s Tavush province, was also killed by Azerbaijani gunfire. Aharonyan specified that the woman killed by gunfire was Paytsar Aghajanyan, 83. “To stabilize the situation in the border zone and deter the enemy, the Armenian armed forces will take proportionate actions, the full responsibility for which will be borne by Azerbaijan’s military and political leadership,” the press service of Armenian Defense Ministry said yesterday.