Press Release Regarding the Clashes on the Line of Contact and on Azerbaijan-Armenia borderline

Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Dışişleri Bakanlığı 02.04.2016

No: 82, 2 April 2016

We condemn the artillery fire launched against Azerbaijan on the line of contact and the attacks by Armenia affecting also the civilian population on the night of April 1 to 2.We wish God's mercy on our fallen Azerbaijani brothers, patience to their relatives and a speedy recovery to the injured. We invite Armenia to observe the ceasefire and immediately put an end to the clashes.

For about a quarter century, Armenia has been occupying one-fifth of Azerbaijan's territory. Unless this occupation comes to an end and Armenia abandons its aggressive stance, unfortunately, the risk of experiencing similar clashes will continue. In this regard, we reiterate our call on Armenia to put an end the occupation in peaceful means in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

As a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, established for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Turkey will continue to support the efforts for reaching a just and lasting solution within the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.

Moreover, in respect thereof, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Turkey, H.E. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of the Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey and H.E. İsmet Yılmaz, Minister of the National Defence of the Republic of Turkey had phone conversations with their Azerbaijani counterparts regarding the situation and extended their condolences for our fallen Azerbaijani brothers.