OSCE head calls for full cease-fire

ATHENS, Greece, May 11 (UPI) -- The head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe called on leaders in Azerbaijan and Armenia to fully implement a cease-fire agreement.

Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, OSCE chairperson-in-office, released a statement Monday ahead of the 15th anniversary of the cease-fire agreement for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which is Tuesday.

Despite the cease-fire, people are still killed near the borders of the disputed region every year from snipers and other threats. Bakoyannis called on Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to reach a deal fully implementing the provisions of the cease-fire and move toward peace in the former Soviet region.

"We must also keep in mind that despite the important cease-fire that was signed 15 years ago, the situation on the ground remains extremely volatile, and tragically, lives continue to be lost," Bakoyannis said in a statement.

"Further confidence-building measures are necessary, and I urge the parties to respect all provisions of the cease-fire, as well as the proposals of the co-chairs at the 2008 Helsinki OSCE ministerial conference to withdraw snipers from the front lines."