French diplomat is convinced that status quo in Karabakh is no longer acceptable and may result in new upsurge in violence

 The OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries (France, Russia and the United States) are 
unanimous that it is necessary to set up mechanisms to investigate 
the incidents along the line of contact of the troops, Harlem Desir, 
French Secretary of State for European Affairs, told reporters in 
Yerevan on April 25. 

He stressed that these mechanisms should be introduced in all 
sections of the contact line that face the risk of resumption of 
hostilities. 

"Together with its partners from Russia and the United States, France 
is exerting efforts to normalize the situation in the Karabakh 
conflict zone. Following the recent processes in the conflict zone, 
we are convinced that the status quo is no longer acceptable and may 
result in new upsurge in violence. Our approach is that only 
negotiations and dialogue can make it possible to find the ways to 
resolve the conflict," Desir said. In this light, he noted that 
following the escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh the OSCE MG co-chairs 
issued a statement, urging the parties to immediately cease the 
hostilities. 

"We are convinced that in the current situation the Karabakh conflict 
can no longer be considered frozen," the French diplomat said, noting 
that the past few years were full of reports about a big number of 
casualties. He also pointed out the barbarities in the region, which 
are one more reason for finding a political solution to the conflict.     

Harlem Desir stressed the need to observe the ceasefire, as well as 
to set up mechanisms controlling the ceasefire observance. He added 
that the given task can be given to the OSCE observers, for instance.   

That is to say, the matter concerns both people and electronic 
devices, which will register the violations and impartially report 
which side has initiated the violations. "What happened in April 2016 
demonstrates that there is no military solution to the conflict," he 
said, adding that the conflict should be resolved by negotiations 
based on the Madrid Principles.