THE U.N. Security Council on Tuesday called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to immediately halt fighting over the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and urgently resume talks without preconditions.

The U.N.’s most powerful body strongly condemned the use of force and backed Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ earlier call to immediately stop fighting, de-escalate tensions and return to meaningful negotiations without delay.

The two neighbors have been locked in conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region of Azerbaijan that has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a war there ended in 1994. International efforts to settle the conflict have stalled, and clashes have been frequent.

The council expressed full support for “the central role” of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, which has been trying to mediate peace talks, and urged the sides “to work closely with them for an urgent resumption of dialogue without preconditions.”

In a press statement read by the council president after closed consultations, members expressed concern at reports of “large scale military actions” and expressed regret at the loss of life and toll on the civilian population.

Five European council members — France, Germany, Britain, Belgium and Estonia — asked for the closed council meeting following the upsurge in fighting. U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo briefed members on the current situation.

Germany’s deputy U.N. Ambassador Gunter Sautter called on neighboring states “to play a more constructive role in this regard and avoid everything that could further raise tensions.” He said German Chancellor Angela Merkel underlined to the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in phone calls that the conflict must be resolved on the principles of “non-use of force, territorial integrity and self-determination.”

(SD-Agencies)