Macron calls on Azerbaijan to ‘respect ceasefire’ with Armenia

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday urged his Azerbaijan counterpart Ilham Aliyev to “return to respecting the ceasefire” with Armenia after fresh border clashes erupted between arch-foes Baku and Yerevan.

During a phone call, he “told President Aliyev (of) the urgency of putting an end to hostilities, and to return to respecting the ceasefire”, the French presidency said, after Armenia and Azerbaijan reported nearly 100 troop deaths on Tuesday.

Macron expressed his “great concern” about the new clashes and insisted on the need to “intensify negotiation efforts” between the two countries.

The French president added his “willingness to contribute to it alongside all partners, especially the European Union”, the Elysee said.

Macron had spoken with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the night between Monday and Tuesday, and called for “respect for Armenia’s territorial integrity”.

Azerbaijan has accused Armenia of violating a ceasefire brokered by Russia, prompting renewed fears of another all-out conflict between the historic foes.

The violence market the worst fighting since a 2020 war over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.