The United States welcomes the July 3 release by Azerbaijan of 15 Armenian detainees and their return to Armenia. We also welcome Armenia’s decision to share information with Azerbaijan that will facilitate humanitarian demining.

We also continue to urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to reengage in substantive negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to negotiate a comprehensive and sustainable political settlement to the conflict.

The French Embassy said in a statement that the release of 15 Armenians in exchange for maps of the minefields of Zangelan and Fizuli was “an important gesture to reduce tensions and restore confidence between the parties.”

France, within the framework of the co-chairmanship in the Minsk Group, calls on the parties “to continue this positive dynamics and expresses commitment to strengthening peace in the South Caucasus,” the statement said.

Source: Turan News Agency