A spokesman for the UN Secretary General issued a statement on the situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The Secretary-General condemns all attacks on human settlements in the conflict zone:
"The tragic loss of life of civilians, including children, as a result of the attack on the city of Ganja on October 16 is completely unacceptable.
The Secretary-General deeply regrets that the parties have repeatedly ignored the international community's repeated calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities. As the Secretary-General reiterated in recent telephone conversations with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, both sides have an obligation under international humanitarian law to ensure the protection and defense of civilians and civilian infrastructure during military operations.
Noting the announcement of the beginning of a humanitarian ceasefire on October 18, the Secretary General expects both sides to fully comply with this commitment and to continue substantive talks within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group without delay.
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