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The European Union welcomes the cessation of hostilities in and around Nagorno-Karabakh and calls on all parties to continue to strictly respect the ceasefire to prevent further loss of life, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said in a statement on Thursday.

The EU also urges all regional actors to refrain from any actions or rhetoric that could jeopardise the ceasefire, calling for the full and prompt withdrawal of all foreign fighters from the region.

"The cessation of hostilities is only a first step to end the long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The EU considers that efforts must be renewed for a negotiated, comprehensive and sustainable settlement of the conflict, including on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. The EU therefore reiterates its full support to the international format of the OSCE Minsk Group led by its Co-Chairs and to the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to pursue this objective. The EU stands ready to effectively contribute in the shaping of a durable and comprehensive settlement of the conflict, including where possible through support for stabilisation, post conflict rehabilitation and confidence building measures," the statement added.

Josep Borrell also reiterates the EU's firm opposition against the use of force, in particular the use of cluster ammunitions and incendiary weapons, as a mean to settle disputes. "The EU stresses that international humanitarian law must be respected and calls on the parties to implement the agreements on the exchange of prisoners of war and the repatriation of human remains reached within the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs format on 30 October in Geneva," added the EU Foreign Policy Chief.