/By Azernews/

By Aynur Karimova

Escalation along the line of contact flared up on April 2, as Armenian troops once again resorted to provocation against the Azerbaijani side.

A powerful strike from the Azerbaijani troops confused the Armenian militaries forcing them to retreat and run leaving their weapons on the ground. The Azerbaijani troops retook hills around the village of Talish, as well as Seysulan settlement, and also took over Lele Tepe hill located in the direction of Fizuli region.

The sides agreed on truce on April 5, however Azerbaijan's leadership has voiced its firm position that if Armenia again violates ceasefire, it will be given a fitting rebuff.

The Azerbaijani army has again shown the enemy where it belongs, President Ilham Aliyev said while talking to the families of the martyred and wounded Azerbaijani servicemen on April 5.

"We have given it a fitting rebuff. We have full advantage today, too. Despite this, we have stated that we are ready to unilaterally restore the ceasefire on the condition that the other party will also observe the ceasefire. We do not want war. We want a peaceful solution to the issue,” President Aliyev stated.

Azerbaijan has taken appropriate measures to counter Armenia’s use of force against its territorial integrity and sovereignty, and to ensure the safety of civilian population and property within its internationally recognized borders.

During the counter attack from April 2 through April 5, more than 370 Armenian soldiers, 12 tanks, 12 armored vehicles and 15 artillery pieces have been destroyed.

President Aliyev further emphasized that Azerbaijan is ready for peace talks with Armenia.

"Although the negotiations remain fruitless, we are still ready for talks," he said. "The Armenian side has resorted to this provocation because the pressure on it from the international community and the mediators dealing with this issue is mounting."

However, Azerbaijan's territorial integrity has never been and never will be the subject of negotiations, the president emphasized.

"If the Armenian leadership realizes its mistakes and acts honestly at the negotiating table, I am sure there are possibilities for a peaceful solution of the problem. In any case, we want it," President Aliyev stated.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have agreed to cease operations on the line of contact starting from 12.00, April 5, as a meeting between the Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijan Armed Forces Colonel General Najmaddin Sadikhov and the Chief of General Staff of Armenian Armed Forces Colonel General Yuri Khachaturyan took place by the mediation of Russian.

Azerbaijan declared that it ceases all military operations, but on the condition that the other party does not take advantage of that.

"We are on our own land. We do not claim the land of another country. We did not occupy the land of another country, but we will not allow anyone to rule on our land," President Aliyev noted.

President Aliyev once again stressed Azerbaijan's position on the achieved ceasefire during his phone talk with Russia's President Vladimir Putin on April 5.

President Aliyev reminded that the ceasefire was restored today, on April 5 afternoon, and the responsibility for its violation lies on the Armenian side.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly brought to the attention of the international community that the primary reason of the tension in the region is the unlawful presence of the armed forces of Armenia in the territories of Azerbaijan.

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