Italy supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and its position is consistent with that of the EU, says the statement issued by Italy's Foreign Ministry on the occasion of a visit of Azerbaijani president to Rome.

Italy is a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, and as a member it shares and recognizes the actions of the ongoing negotiation process towards the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, managed under the OSCE co-chairing states.

The statement says that mutual commitment of Rome and Baku must focus on peaceful settlement of the issue based on UN Charter and Helsinki Final Act as well as negotiations led by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states – France, Russia and U.S.

Taking into account the recent developments, Italy's Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over the incidents that have recently occurred in the region, and in close cooperation with EU partners, encourages Armenia and Azerbaijan to refrain from the use of force, as well as use the meting of President Aliyev and President Sargsyan in Sochi on August 10 in order to find a political solution to the conflict.