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World leaders, senior religious figures and top officials have reacted to Friday’s attacks in and around Paris, which killed more than 120 people in the deadliest violence to strike France since World War II.

US President Barack Obama
Obama called the attacks on Paris “outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians” and vowed to do whatever it takes to help bring the perpetrators to justice.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Obama said refused to speculate on the perpetrators of the attack.

He called the attacks an “attack on all of humanity” and a “heartbreaking situation.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin
In a telegram to French President Francois Hollande, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the attacks were “the latest testimonial to the barbaric essence of terrorism which throws down a challenge to human civilization.”

“It’s obvious that an effective fight against this evil demands a real unity of the forces of the international community. I would like to confirm the readiness of Russia for the closest cooperation with our French partners in investigating the crime that took place in Paris.

The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan

The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, on Saturday sent condolences to President François Hollande of France.

Sargsyan extended his commiseration in connection with Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris.

“Armenia stands with the brotherly France, and is ready to render full assistance at this difficult time.

United Nations
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned “the despicable terrorist attacks” in Paris.

The UN Security Council also deplored “the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attacks,” and underlined the need to bring the perpetrators of “these terrorist acts to justice.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Merkel said she was “deeply shaken by the news and pictures from Paris.”

The German leader issued a statement saying her thoughts were with the victims “of the apparent terrorist attack.”

British Prime Minister David Cameron
The British prime minister said on Twitter: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the French people. We will do whatever we can to help.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
“Our hearts and thoughts and prayers go out to our French cousins in this dark and terrible time,” Trudeau said.

He said Canada has offered “all of our help and support to the government of France.”

Jordan’s King Abdullah II
King Abdullah II “expressed strong condemnation and indignation at the cowardly terrorist act” and solidarity with the French people, in a statement published by state news agency, Petra.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement saying, “Israel stands shoulder to shoulder with French President Francois Hollande and with the people of France in our common battle against terrorism.”

Egypt President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi
The Egyptian president issued a statement Saturday calling for “concerted international efforts” to combat “the scourge of terrorism, which aims to destabilize security and stability in various parts of the world, without distinction.”

Gulf states
In the United Arab Emirates, the state-run WAM news agency said President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent a telegram to Hollande offering his condolences and pledging support for France. WAM says Al Nahyan also called for the world to do “what it takes to face terrorism and eliminate it.”

The ruler of Kuwait, Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, offered his condolences to France, while stressing that “these criminal acts of terrorism … run counter to all teachings of holy faith and humanitarian values.”

In Saudi Arabia, the state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted a Foreign Ministry official denouncing Friday’s attack.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani
The state-run IRNA news agency quoted Rouhani as saying Saturday that Iran “itself has been a victim of the scourge of terrorism” and the fight against terrorism must go on.

Rouhani also cancelled his scheduled visits to France and Italy, which were due to begin in a few days. France was one of the world powers involved in recent negotiations regarding the Islamic Republic’s controversial nuclear programme.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
Assad denounced the “savage act of terror” the likes of which “Syria has endured for over five years and said the attacks were a result of French policy in Syria.

Head of Cairo’s Al-Azhar mosque
The head of Sunni Islam’s leading seat of learning, Cairo’s Al-Azhar, decried the “hateful” terrorist attacks and urged global unity against extremism.

“The time has come for the world to unite to confront this monster,” said Ahmed al-Tayyeb.

The Vatican
The Vatican deplored the terror attacks as “an attack on peace for all humanity.”

Father Federico Lombardi, who is the director of the Holy See Press Office, said in a statement early Saturday that the violence requires “a decisive, supportive response on the part of all of us as we counter the spread of homicidal hatred in all of its forms.”

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP, REUTERS)

MOSCOW, WASHINGTON—Russia, together with other co-chairing countries of the mediating OSCE Minsk Group, will continue targeted efforts in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokesman said Thursday, a day after Azerbaijani forces shot down an unarmed Artsakh military helicopter, killing three people.“Russia calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to refrain from moves which could lead to the escalation of tensions,” the Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Thursday, TASS reports.

“We are very concerned about the incident which has led to the deaths of people. We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims,” Lukashevich said, adding that Russia’s stance was reflected in the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group on November 12.

The spokesman said that Russia reminds the leadership of Azerbaijan and Armenia of their “responsibility towards complying with their commitments on searching for a peaceful resolution of the conflict which they took at the meeting in Sochi, Newport and Paris.”

The United States and the European Union similarly echoed international mediators’ concerns of an escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resulting from Wednesday’s incident.

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, also called for an inquiry into the incident which could lead to another upsurge in fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) reports.

“It is essential that all sides show restraint and avoid any actions or statements which could escalate the situation. Furthermore, we call for an investigation into this incident,” read a statement issued by Mogherini’s office late on Wednesday.

“Both sides have to strictly respect the ceasefire, to refrain from the use of force or any threat thereof, and to resume efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” added the statement.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki similarly said that the incident is “yet another reminder” of the need to reduce tensions in the conflict zone. There can be “no military solution to the conflict,” Psaki told reporters in Washington.

“We urge all sides to respect the ceasefire and not to take any actions to escalate the situation,” Kate Byrnes, the acting head of the U.S. mission to the OSCE, said on Thursday.

Byrnes spoke at a meeting of the OSCE’s governing Permanent Council in Vienna, which discussed the Karabakh conflict and the downing of the Armenian helicopter in particular. The U.S., Russian and French diplomats co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group briefed the council on their ongoing efforts to revive the Karabakh peace process.

“A wider conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is in no one’s interest,” James Warlick, the U.S. co-chair tweeted ahead of the Vienna meeting.

NATO also warned against an escalation in violence. The incident “is absolutely not conducive to the peaceful resolution of this conflict,” NATO’s Liason Officer in the South Caucasus William Lahue told reporters on the sidelines of a workshop for reporters organized within the framework of NATO Week in Armenia.

“Military actions serve to inhibit the ability of the parties to resolve such a conflict,” he said, adding that “NATO would like to see the parties engaged in peaceful negotiations and discussions to resolve this conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group format.”

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) also urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to honor their 20-year-old truce on Thursday, Reuters reports.
The OSCE, which has led talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia since the war, said it should not lead to new violence.

“The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister, Didier Burkhalter … appeals to the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia to do their utmost to prevent such incidents and to honor the ceasefire regime,” the OSCE said in a statement.

Footage from the Azeri side showed the helicopter explode in the air over the neutral zone between the two sides and officials said the three crew members were killed.

Armenia promised “painful” consequences for Azerbaijan after it downed the helicopter, which had been carrying out training exercises.

The Azeri defense ministry said an army officer had been honored for shooting down the aircraft.