Russian, Azerbaijani DMs hold phone talk amid aggravation of Nagorno-Karabakh situation

MOSCOW. March 25 (Interfax) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov had a phone conversation on Friday over the aggravation of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"The defense ministers discussed ways of stabilizing the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and maintaining security in South Caucasus," the report said.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the phone conversation took place "over the aggravation of the situation in the area of the peacekeeping operation in Nagorno-Karabakh."

"The sides exchanged opinions on the progress of the peacekeeping operation and the humanitarian situation in the area where it is being conducted," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a report.

The Defense Ministry of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic reported earlier on Friday that five troops of the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army had been wounded in an exchange of fire with Azerbaijani troops.