Japan`s Foreign Ministry made statement on escalation of tension on Nagono-Karabakh contact line.

Japan deeply concerns regarding with the escalation of tension on conflict zone and expresses its condelences to family members of martyrs. The peaceful solution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict is an essential to restore peace and stability in South Coucasus region, the statement reads.

Japan supports OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs` efforts to solve the conflict and hopes its peaceful solution within the frame of international law norms.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the