TODAY.AZ / Politics

Baku says Armenian troops’ presence in Azerbaijan’s occupied lands is main reason of tensions

05 July 2017 [14:12] - TODAY.AZ

By Azernews


By Rashid Shirinov

Baku has repeatedly stated that the presence of Armenia’s Armed Forces in the Azerbaijani occupied territories is the main reason for the escalation of the situation in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the main obstacle for its political settlement.

Spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmat Hajiyev made the remarks on July 5 at a joint briefing of official representatives of the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry and the Prosecutor General’s Office of Azerbaijan, commenting on the latest developments on the contact line between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops.

He went on to say that Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov discussed the latest Armenian provocation against Azerbaijan with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Igor Popov and Stephane Visconti.

“The foreign minister brought to their [OSCE MG co-chairs’] attention the serious concern of the Azerbaijani side and stated that Armenia’s actions are aimed solely at the escalation of the situation and disruption of negotiations,” Hajiyev said.

Armenia's actions are intentional as Yerevan is well aware that civilians live in those areas that were subjected to fire, according to him.

On July 4 at about 20:40 (GMT+4 hours), the Armenian armed forces again violated ceasefire and, using 82-mm and 120-mm mortars and grenade launchers, shelled Azerbaijani positions and territories where the civilian population lives, namely the Alkhanli village of the country’s Fuzuli district, thereby grossly violating the requirements of international law, the Azerbaijani defense ministry said earlier.

As a result of this provocation, the residents of the village Sakhiba Guliyeva, 50, and Zakhra Guliyeva, 2, were killed. Servinaz Guliyeva, 52, who got wounded, was taken to the hospital and was operated on.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/162874.html

Print version

Views: 1367

Connect with us. Get latest news and updates.

Recommend news to friend

  • Your name:
  • Your e-mail:
  • Friend's name:
  • Friend's e-mail: