Russia concerned over Armenia-Azerbaijan border clashes

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia voiced concern on Monday over the recent border clashes between the forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The Russian Foreign Ministry in a statement called on the conflicting parties to exercise restrain, and establish a cease-fire.

The ministry said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the latest situation with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov.

"The Russian Foreign Ministry expresses serious concern over the sharp escalation of the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on July 12..." the statement said, offering condolences to the bereaved.

Moscow said further escalation is "unacceptable" as it threatens regional security, and expressed readiness to provide any assistance in easing the tensions.

Three Azerbaijani soldiers were martyred, and four others injured in a clash with Armenian troops on Sunday.

Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said Armenian army fired on positions held by Azerbaijan in the northwestern Tovuz region.

The ministry pointed out that such moves -- which Armenia makes to distract the international community’s attention from its years-long illegal occupation of the Azerbaijani region of Upper Karabakh and its surrounding areas, and to add new dimensions to the conflict -- are doomed to remain inconclusive.

Upper Karabakh, or Nagorno-Karabakh, an internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan, has been illegally occupied since 1991 through Armenian military aggression.