“The crisis in the region that started with the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh must be put to an end. With the immediate withdrawal from the occupied Azerbaijani territories by Armenia, the region will regain peace and tranquility," Erdogan said during a speech in Istanbul, Ahval reported.

The Turkish President also said Azerbaijan had been waiting for a solution for over 30 years, and Baku could not be called to account over the recent escalation.

"For nearly 30 years they had been accounting for you, 'Let's solve this matter. Let's not prolong this anymore,' they said. Whose lands are the occupied lands? Territories of Azerbaijan. You all accept this. You accept Nagorno-Karabakh. The invaders are there. Nobody asks to account for this. Azerbaijan, who says it is the day of reckoning, had to take matters into their hands," Erdogan said.

Both sides reported civilian casualties.

The clashes that started on Sunday between Armenia and Azerbaijan are the latest flare-up in an ongoing dispute over the mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh region. Although the region is officially recognized as part of Azerbaijan, it is governed as a de facto independent state with an ethnic Armenian majority.

Reporter’s code: 50101