EU urges Armenia, Azerbaijan to prevent replay of armed incidents at border

BRUSSELS. April 12 (Interfax) - The European Union has expressed its regret over armed clashes at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in which several Armenian and Azerbaijani troops were killed and injured, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) said.

"This incident yet again emphasizes that in the absence of a delimited border, the 1991 line must be respected [and] the forces of either side withdrawn to safe distances from this line to prevent any similar incidents from occurring," the statement says.

The sides should respect previous commitments, including those reached in Prague in October 2022 regarding the mutual recognition of territorial integrity in line with the 1991 Almaty Declaration, it says.

"The EU also urges the intensification of negotiations on the delimitation of the border and continues to stand ready to support this process. We renew our calls for restraint and for the settlement of all disputes by peaceful means. The EU continues to support these efforts, including at the highest level, and also through the presence of the EU Mission in Armenia," it says.