Priority immediate truce in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict - Italy

Italy wants Armenia and Azerbaijan to "immediately" stop the fighting that broke out six days ago over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and to engage with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to re-establish a ceasefire

"The priority now is the immediate cessation of hostilities," the foreign ministry said in a statement after foreign minister Luigi Di Maio held phone talks with his Armenian counterpart Zohrab Mnatsakanyan.

Minister Di Maio highlighted the need for an immediate ceasefire to avert a further escalation and destabilization of the entire Region, expressing concern about the extent of the clashes, which show no sign of diminishing in intensity, also causing many victims civilians," said the statement.

Di Maio told Mnatsakanyan that Italy is committed to relaunching negotiations through OSCE's Minsk Group (set up in 1992 to mediate in the conflict between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenians over the mountainous enclave).

Azerbaijan and Armenia need to return to negotiations "without preconditions and with serious commitment," the statement said.

Armenia’s foreign ministry said on Friday it was ready to work with OCSCE to re-establish a truce in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is officially part of Azerbaijan but is run by ethnic Armenians.

Turkey said the US, France and Russia should have no role in peace talks.