Guterres met with both Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers separately, and urged them to de-escalate the situation and return to dialogue.

A statement issued by the Secretary-General's Office outlined the discussions held with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.

“The Secretary-General expressed concern about the latest military escalation in the region and emphasized the need for strict observance of the ceasefire,” the statement emphasized.

In a similar vein, during his meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Secretary-General Guterres not only underscored the imperative of upholding the ceasefire but also reiterated “the UN's support for all mediation efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace in the region.”

These conversations come against the backdrop of renewed tensions in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, highlighting the international community's commitment to de-escalating the situation and fostering a peaceful resolution to the longstanding dispute. (ILKHA)