L. Linkevičius discusses escalation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border with Foreign Ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey
On 17 July, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius had a telephone conversation with the Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramo, and discussed the Armenia-Azerbaijan border clashes. The fighting escalated on 12 July. It has caused casualties and injuries on both sides, as well as extensive damage to civilian infrastructure.
L. Linkevičius extended his condolences to the families of the victims and noted that Lithuania enjoyed friendly relations with both countries in the South Caucasus. Thus, we are especially interested in dealing with the current conflict as soon as possible.
"The renewed escalation of violence between the two Eastern Partnership countries poses a serious threat to security in the region. Such confrontation is not necessary for the parties to the conflict. The most important thing to do right now is to act decisively: get the situation under control, make a strategic pause, stop fighting and refrain from any further escalation," said Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, who called on the two countries to make full use of the available channels of bilateral communication and stressed the need for a stronger involvement by the OSCE Minsk Group.
L. Linkevičius also discussed the recent armed clashes on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in a phone call with Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. The two Foreign Ministers noted that the confrontation would not benefit either side and urged the conflict parties to adhere strictly to the ceasefire.
