Foreign Minister Steinmeier spoke on the phone to his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, this afternoon to discuss the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and coordinate efforts to defuse the conflict. They were in complete agreement on the need for the fighting to stop immediately and for the sides to return to a ceasefire without delay.

The two Foreign Ministers also underlined the crucial importance of a political process. On that score, they are both of the opinion that the OSCE in collaboration with the Minsk Group has a vital role to play in coordinating international efforts to defuse the conflict.