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“The deterioration of the situation on the ground demonstrates the need for an immediate negotiation, under the auspices of the Co-chairs, on a comprehensive settlement”, - reads the statement issued by OSCE Minsk Group together with the OSCE Troika representatives, convening an emergency meeting in Vienna today (around 3PM, CEST). The full text of the statement below: We, the representatives of the OSCE Minsk Group countries (Russian Federation, the United States of America, France, Belarus, Finland, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Turkey), as well as the incoming Austrian OSCE Chair (2017) and the Serbian OSCE Chair (2015), strongly condemn the outbreak of unprecedented violence along the Line of Contact. We extend our condolences to all affected families.

We urge the sides to cease using force immediately. There is no military solution to the conflict. The deterioration of the situation on the ground demonstrates the need for an immediate negotiation, under the auspices of the Co-chairs, on a comprehensive settlement. The representatives of the Minsk Group member states affirm their support for the Russian, American, and French Co-Chairs’ mediation efforts and welcome their plans to undertake direct consultations with the sides as soon as possible.

Earlier, talking to the Russian Interfax news agency, Ani Sargsyan, the spokeswoman of Foreign Minister of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic confirmed the reports that OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are expected in Stepanakert, but declined to provide details.

ԵԱՀԿ Մինսկի խմբի համանախագահները կայցելեն ԼՂՀ։ ժամկետների մասին կհաղորդվի լրացուցիչ

— Ani Sargsyan (@anie_sarg) April 5, 2016

Reports of regional visit by the OSCE MG co-Chairmen were also confirmed by the Armenian Foreign Ministry.

.@OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will visit #Yerevan on April 9. They will be received by the President and the Foreign Minister of #Armenia.

— MFA of Armenia (@MFAofArmenia) April 5, 2016

According to confirmed reports, affirmed by both Stepanakert and Baku, ceasefire has been established along the Line of Contact today, April 5, as of 12:00 local time. Peace talks between Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan have been facilitated by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe since March 1992 within the frameworks of so-called Minsk Group, co-Chaired by Russia, United States and France since mid-1990s.

Ceasefire agreement between Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, facilitated by Russia's representative to the CSCE/OSCE Minsk Group Vladimir Kazimirov, was signed on May 5, 1994, which had been maintained with only sporadic violations along the Line of Contact and international border till the latest Azerbaijani large scale offensive in the night of April 2, 2016. Over the last two years Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, the OSCE Minsk Group co-Chairs and over 80 U.S. Congressmen proposed (Royce-Engel bill) concrete measures to de-escalate situation and establish ceasefire monitoring equipments along the borders. Azerbaijan has been repeatedly rejecting these calls.