Yerevan /Mediamax/. Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations, Ambassador Zohrab Mnatsakanyan has said that as a result of Azerbaijan’s recent ceasefire violations, the civilians of Armenia and NK area faced with significant security challenges.

The Ambassador said this during the Security Council Open Debate on “Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict” on January 19.

“As a result of intensified cease-fire violations and massive shelling of populated areas with the unprecedented use of heavy artillery, considerable damage has been inflicted on the livelihoods of the bordering villages. In September 2015 three women have been killed by Azerbaijani fire. Armenia strongly deplores the purposeful acts of Azerbaijan to violate the cease-fire regime and damage the on-going peace process within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship. Once again, Armenia urges Azerbaijan to heed the calls of the international community and agree without delay to establish an investigative mechanism into the cease-fire violations, and to withdraw snipers. By rejecting such mechanism, Azerbaijan bears full responsibility for the violations and the escalation of tensions”, stated Zohrab Mnatsakanyan.

He has stressed that the OSCE Minsk Group is a positive example of effective utilization of the capacity of regional organizations in conflict resolution.

“Armenia highly commends the support of the international community, of the United Nations and of the Secretary General rendered to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship in the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan should be denied the attempts to undermine the efforts of the Co-chairs or to engage in forum and mediation shopping”, concluded Armenia’s Ambassador to UN.