Marina Kaljurand, Chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus, issued a statement regarding Azerbaijan's latest military aggression against Armenia.

The Secretariat of the Standing Committee on European Integration of the National Assembly of Armenia provided Armenian news-NEWS.am with the text of this statement, which reads as follows:

"I strongly condemn last night's large-scale military attack by Azerbaijan against multiple targets in the territory of the Republic of Armenia. Intensive artillery shelling and AV attacks have been reported, targeting the Armenian provinces of Syunik, Vayots Dzor and Gegharkunik and leaving an as yet unknown number of casualties.

This new aggression follows Baku's serious breaches of the ceasefire on the Nagorno-Karabakh line of contact in March and August, taking advantage of the global and regional situation created by the aggression of Russia against Ukraine.

I call on the international community, and in particular the European Union, to meet this unacceptable use of force with an unequivocal response. This is not a time for toothless statements calling for restraint from 'both sides’. I recall that only two weeks ago, Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed in Brussels to start working on a draft peace treaty within a month. I urge Baku not to waste this historic opportunity and to return to the negotiating table without delay.”