Armenia and Azerbaijan have begun their first direct talks since clashes over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region flared up again nearly two weeks ago.
The talks in Moscow between the countries’ foreign ministers are being mediated by their Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.
The UN says it is concerned by reports that populated areas are being shelled.
More than 300 people have died and thousands displaced since the latest violence broke out on 27 September.
Nagorno-Karabakh is run by ethnic Armenians although it is officially part of Azerbaijan. The two former Soviet republics have blamed each other for the latest outbreak of violence – the worst in decades.
What’s the latest from Moscow?
“It has begun,” Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova posted on Facebook, along with a photograph of the three ministers sitting around a table.
As the talks got under way, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made a televised nationwide address saying he was willing to give Armenia a “last chance” to resolve the conflict peacefully.
“This is their historic chance,” he said.
Turkey, which supports its traditional ally Azerbaijan in the conflict, said on Friday that peace efforts would fail unless Armenia withdrew its forces from the region.
Russia has a military base in Armenia and both are members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) alliance. But Moscow also has good relations with Azerbaijan, and is keen to achieve a peace deal.
What is the international reaction?
A statement from French President Emmanuel Macron said a breakthrough was possible, but far from certain.
“We are moving towards a truce tonight or tomorrow but it’s still fragile,” his office told AFP news agency.
France is part of the Minsk Group, along with Russia and the US, which was set up to find a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
IMAGE COPYRIGHT GETTY IMAGESUN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet called for an “urgent ceasefire due to the impact on civilians”.
She said it was “deeply worrying that in recent days we have seen populated areas reportedly targeted and shelled with heavy weaponry in and around the conflict area”.
What has been happening on the ground?
On Thursday, Armenia accused Azerbaijan of deliberately shelling a historic cathedral in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Pictures showed serious damage at the Holy Saviour Cathedral in Shusha city (known as Shushi in Armenian).
IMAGE COPYRIGHTGETTY IMAGESAzerbaijan, meanwhile, said on Thursday that its second-largest city, Ganja, and the region of Goranboy had been shelled by Armenian forces, killing at least one civilian.
The clashes have displaced half of Nagorno-Karabakh’s population – about 70,000 people – officials said. The region’s main city, Stepanakert, has suffered several days of shelling with residents sheltering in basements and much of the city left without power.
Fighting was reportedly continuing on Friday.
IMAGE COPYRIGHTGETTY IMAGESArmenia and Azerbaijan went to war over Nagorno-Karabakh in 1988-94, eventually declaring a ceasefire. However, they have never reached a settlement over the dispute and tensions between the two have long simmered.
Nagorno-Karabakh – key facts
- A mountainous region of about 4,400 sq km (1,700 sq miles)
- Traditionally inhabited by Christian Armenians and Muslim Turks
- In Soviet times, it became an autonomous region within the republic of Azerbaijan
- Internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but majority of population is ethnic Armenian
- Self-proclaimed authorities are not recognised by any UN member, including Armenia
- An estimated one million people displaced by war in 1988-94, and about 30,000 killed
- Separatist forces captured some extra territory around the enclave in Azerbaijan
- Stalemate has largely prevailed since a 1994 ceasefire
- Turkey openly supports Azerbaijan
- Russia has a military base in Armenia