Pope Francis urges Armenia, Azerbaijan to resolve their differences peacefully
Pope Francis urges Armenia, Azerbaijan to resolve their differences peacefully

Pope Francis urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve their differences peacefully following clashes over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region.

“I pray for peace in the Caucasus region and ask the parties in conflict to show goodwill to resolve the problems, not with the use of force and weapons but through dialogue and negotiations,” stated Pope Francis.

Clashes on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border have broken out today. Armenian Defence Ministry said: “early this morning, the Azerbaijani side launched missile attacks along the entire line of contact targeting also the peaceful settlements, including the capital Stepanakert.”

Shushan Stepanian, a spokesman for Armenia’s Defense Ministry noted that Azerbaijan launched an air and missile attack in the direction of Nagorno-Karabakh. “Armenian army side has destroyed three Azerbaijani tanks and shot down two enemy helicopters and three unmanned aerial vehicles.”

As Defence Ministry of Azerbaijan stated, “the command staff of the Azerbaijan Army decided to launch a counter-offensive operation of our troops along the entire front to suppress the combat activity of the armed forces of Armenia and ensure the safety of the civilian population.”