Violence flares in Nagorno-Karabakh

Violence has recently erupted in the region of Azerbaijan known as Nagorno-Karabakh, which is dominated by ethnic Armenians.

Reuters reports that so far, 15 people have been killed in fighting between Azeri armed forces and the irregular Armenian separatists who control the mountainous breakaway region of Nagorgno-Karabakh located in western Azerbaijan.

The Associated Press says the recent violence began in late July. It is not clear who exactly started the most recent violence at this time. Both the Azeri government and the Armenian separatists have blamed each other.

The AP notes that the Azeri defense ministry has announced that 12 of its soldiers have been killed in fighting in the last three days. The Armenian separatists have also said that three of their fighters were killed.

The fighting threatens a 1994 ceasefire that was reached after a three-year conflict that claimed at least 30,000 lives. The Russian Foreign Ministry weighed in on the situation and said, "We express our concern over the sharp aggravation of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, which resulted in huge casualties."

The statement went on to say, "We express deep condolences to the bereaved families. We consider the recent events as a serious violation of the ceasefire and voiced intentions to reach a settlement by political means."

The statement ended with a stern call for honoring the ceasefire, "Further escalation is unacceptable. The Russian Foreign Ministry urges all sides to renounce the use of force and to take immediate measures to stabilize the situation."

These events may open a window for U.S. and Russian cooperation, which has been in short supply ever since violence in eastern Ukraine broke out in early 2014.

In a statement, the United States also called for peace, "There can be no military solution to the conflict. Retaliation and further violence will only make it more difficult to bring about a peaceful settlement."