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“Developments on the contact line are a cause for concern for the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, the Minsk Group Co-chairs and for myself,” Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk told Azerbaijani information agency APA commenting on the situation in the Armenian -Azerbaijani frontline.

As it’s noted in the article, he said that he had received reports of increased use of heavier weapons in ceasefire violations and an increasing number of incursions across the border and the line of contact.

“There is an increase in the number of casualties reported as well. My Office conducted a monitoring exercise on the line of contact on 14 January. I could not personally participate in that monitoring because I was briefing the Chairperson-in-Office at the OSCE in Vienna. Upon my return, I visited Nagorno-Karabakh and Yerevan to monitor the situation, and I will be traveling to Baku. I will continue to keep the Chairperson-in-Office and the Co-chairs informed on developments,” Kasprzyk said.

Besides, Christer Michelsson, the roving Ambassador of Finland Foreign Ministry for the South Caucasus, commented on the situation as well, APA reports. “Finland, as a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, wholeheartedly supports the efforts of the three co-chairs as well as Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk,” he said.

As APA reports, the diplomat said Finland is continuously following the process: “Finland was co-chair of the Minsk process in 1995-96 and has since then continued as a member of the Minsk group. Finland was Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE in 2008 and was active also then. Therefore it can be stated that Finland has taken and takes an active interest in the solving of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Finland is also a member of EU. As EU stated recently, both parties should exercise restraint and intensify efforts towards peace,” he stressed.

The diplomat noted that Finland is supporting all the activities that are capable of raising the level of mutual trust in the conditions of the escalation of the tension. However, the recent incidents and the recent incidents and security situation at the Line of Contact are of serious concern. “Monitoring is a good tool and the work of the Special Representative of the Chairman-in-office is very valuable. It is of great importance that he has the possibility to fully act out his mandate and that he is not hindered in this respect,” he said.

According to the article, answering the question about the negotiations taking more than 20 years and the possibility of changing the OSCE MG format, Christer Michelsson said that it is more important to continue to work towards finding a lasting solution, instead of thinking of changes in mandate, format, etc.

“It is very good that the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia met three times last year. The elements for a solution already exist. As the EU stated recently, the basis for a comprehensive settlement are the elements and principles outlined in the joint statements by the Presidents of Russia, the United States, and France, especially those that were discussed during the last summit in Paris. It is still up to the parties to find the political will to strike a deal. As an EU member country it is pertinent to note that the European Union has stated that is ready to support peacebuilding activities and provide assistance,” he reported.

OCSE Minsk Group co-chairman from the US James Warlick also turned to Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan, the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents.

“My appeal to the Presidents: stop the violence along the Line of Contact and commit to negotiations,” the American diplomat wrote in his Twitter micro blog.