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OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have issued a statement on the recent ceasefire violations at the Line of Contact between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

The statement on behalf of Ambassadors Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane Visconti of France, and Richard Hoagland of the United States of America reads that according to information collected from multiple reliable sources, on 15 May, Azerbaijani armed forces fired a missile across the Line of Contact, striking military equipment. It next states that on the evening of 16 May and continuing into 17 May, Armenian armed forces retaliated with mortar fire of various calibres. “These actions by both sides represent significant violations of the ceasefire and are cause for alarm,” said the Co-Chairs.

“There are contradictory reports regarding the targets of these recent strikes, as well as about casualties sustained and damages inflicted. The Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office continue to collect further data and analysis to gain more complete and accurate information about the current situation,” read the statement adding: “The Co-Chairs condemn these recent ceasefire violations and call upon the sides to take all necessary measures to prevent any further escalation in the conflict zone.”