South Caucasus

1 August: UPDATED at 1300 GMT - There is still no clear information about the latest incidents on the line of contact separating Armenian and Azerbaijani forces in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. The Azerbaijani side has confirmed that it has suffered considerable casualties but there is confusion on the number of those involved. Agence France Presse earlier reported that fourteen Azerbaijani soldiers were killed overnight. The usually well informed Azerbaijani News Agency APA put the numbers between 8 and 9. It however later ran a story from the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry saying that there were eight fatalities over three days. Armenian sources insist that the deaths happened when their forces repulsed an Azerbaijani incursion. They had earlier reported two fatalities between Wednesday and Thursday night. US Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Process, Ambassador James Warlick tweeted that he was seriously concerned with the news and insisted that the cease fire needs to be respected. (source: commonspace.eu with agencies)

New EU Special Representative meets Armenian leadership as tension on line of contact increases, with both sides reporting fatalities.

26 July: Both Armenia and Azerbaijan report extensive violations of the cease-fire on the line of contact in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone last night and early this morning. Azerbaijan says that two civilians were injured after extensive Armenian fire in the village of Alibayli in the Tovuz District. It also says it has repulsed attempts of infiltration by Armenian reconnaissance groups in Aghdam and Goranboy. Armenia says that there was continuous fire from the Azerbaijani side on a number of villages overnight. It says that it has not suffered any casualties

Herbert Salber said that the EU is determined to expand relations with the region and to contribute to a solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Author and journalist Tom du Waal was recently in the South Caucasus for the launch of the Russian version of his book The Black Garden. Azerbaijani journalist Seymour Kazimov caught up with him in Tbilisi and asked him on his views on the Karabakh conflict and its resolution.

19 July: Azerbaijan has said that a civilian was shot dead by Armenian forces on Friday as he was fishing near the village of Chayli, in the Tartar District in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. The villager was named as 26 year old Mubariz Aliyev. The body of the deceased has now been handed over to his family for burial.

The situation following an incident near Kalbajar on Friday presents a challenge to the Red Cross and its on-going work dealing with POWs captured in the Karabakh conflict.

The funeral of the former President was attended by elder statesmen from different countries, foreign delegations and Georgia's national and religious leaders.

There has been no comment yet from the Azerbaijani side.