APA, Azerbaijan Baku criticises mediators' comments on ceasefire violations [Armenian News note: the below is translated from the Russian edition of APA] The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman has accused the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen of demonstrating unfair and non-objective approach in their recent statement concerning the latest ceasefire violation incidents in the Karabakh conflict zone. He also described as "symptomatic" that the co-chairs' "standard statement" spoke only about ceasefire violations but did not mentioned that 18 May marked the 25th anniversary of Azerbaijan's Lacin District coming under control of Armenian troops. "Some 80,000 residents of Lacin became refugees and IDPs, just like residents of other occupied districts of Azerbaijan. Although on that day [18 May when the co-chairs' statement was issued] 25 years turned since the occupation of Lacin District, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs did not mention that in their statement which is unfair and non-objective approach," APA news agency quoted Hikmat Haciyev as saying on 19 May. Haciyev said that the Minsk Group co-chairs did not mention that Armenian troops are present on Azerbaijan's territory and that Armenian troops recently shelled Azeri residential areas in the vicinity of the frontline. "Unfortunately, being concerned about ceasefire violations, in their statement the Minsk Group co-chairs turned a blind eye to the fact that hardware and troops of Armenia's armed forces are present illegally on the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan," Haciyev said. "The Armenian armed forces's illegal presence in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is the major reason for escalation of tension on the frontline and violations of ceasefire," he said. "The armed forces of the Azerbaijan Republic are present on the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan and are defending the country and ensuring the safety of its civilian population in circumstances when the Azerbaijani territories are occupied by Armenia," he added. Haciyev said that the Minsk Group co-chairs should have called for the withdrawal of Armenian troops of Azerbaijani soil and should have urged the conflicting parties to continue talks to find a political solution to the Karabakh conflict. In their 18 May statement, the Minsk Group co-chairs criticised both the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides for "significant violations of the ceasefire" in mid-May. They said that "there are contradictory reports regarding the targets of these recent strikes, as well as about casualties sustained and damages inflicted". The co-chairs urged the sides "to take all necessary measures to prevent any further escalation in the conflict zone".