INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP: SITUATION ON CONTACT LINE OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN TROOPS ESCALATED
Trend, Azerbaijan
Feb 4 2014
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 4
By Sabina Ahmadova – Trend:
The situation on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops
has escalated, according to the International Crisis Group’s bulletin.
The organization stressed that the officials and media representatives
from both sides began using the hostile rhetoric and blaming each
other over the violence since the tensions on the frontline began to
escalate on Jan. 20.
The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group expressed their deep concern
over continued violence in the region and urged the sides to cease the
hostilities, the OSCE Minsk Group said following a meeting between
Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and
Edward Nalbandian in Paris on Jan. 24.
The recent situation on the frontline has remained tense.
Most ceasefire violations are being observed in the Fizuli, Agdam,
Terter, Goranboy, Khojavand, Jabrail regions, spokesman for the
Defense Ministry, Lieutenant-Colonel Vagif Dargahli told Trend earlier.
Dargahli stressed that the number of ceasefire violations has recently
increased. The ceasefire was violated 1,380 times from Jan. 21-29.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are
currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
Translated by NH Edited by CN