More Armenian shells found in Tartar

/By Azernews/

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) continues to reveal artillery shells fired by Armenian militaries.

ANAMA found two 122 (OF56) millimeters caliber shells in Jamilli and Askipara villages of Azerbaijan’s Tartar region on May 22.

The agency also inspected Aghjabadi and Fizuli regions of the country. Remains of two exploded rockets were found in Shukurbeyli village of Fuzuli during the inspection of two shell craters on two pastures.

The Agency examined seven houses and gardens, two crop areas and pastures, 19 shell craters, discovered two artillery shells of 122 mm and viewed the area of 32,321 square meters in total.

Overall, from April 7 to May 22, ANAMA inspected 509 houses and gardens, 14 farms, crop areas, two military units and rural cemeteries, three rural middle schools, one medical center and winery area in Zardab, Tartar, Shamkir, Agjabedi, Agdam, Fuzuli, Tovuz, Goranboy, Samukh, Shamkir, Ujar and Jalilabad regions, cities of Mingachevir and Baku. As a result, 1,451 unexploded ordnances (UXOs), 13 anti-personnel and 6 anti-tank mines were discovered and defused.

The Agency continues its operations for detecting UXOs in the areas close to the contact-line of Armenian and Azerbaijani troops.

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign State with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.

Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region.