AZERI FORCES PRACTICE NEAR DISPUTED TURF
United Press International UPI
July 11 2012
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11 (UPI) — The military in Azerbaijan announced
it started a three-day military exercise near the disputed territory
of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Safar Abiyev told Russia’s state-run
news agency RIA Novosti the three-day drills would feature ground
forces and “the use of modern machinery and weapons.”
Skirmishes broke out between Azeri and Armenian forces in June over
Nagorno-Karabakh. Both sides have gone to war over the territory,
which Azerbaijan claims as its own.
Azeri Deputy Prime Minister Ali Gasanov had suggested “provocation”
from the Armenians was timed to coincide with a visit to the region
from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last month.
Clinton, during talks with Azeri officials in Baku, said conflict
wouldn’t solve an issue simmering since at least the 1990s.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, for his part, had said his country
wasn’t interested in further escalation of the conflict. Several
Armenian and Azeri troops were killed during the skirmishes.
Baku said the military drills would end Friday.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Emil Lazarian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.
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