Category: News

Moscow hopes that the OSCE Minsk Group’s call for cessation of hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh region will help normalize the situation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Saturday, Sputnik News reports.

The Ministry of Defense of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic has released the photos of the downed Azerbaijani MI-24 helicopter.

EU High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini has issued the following statement on the escalation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict:

Reports of heavy fighting along the line of contact are deeply worrying.

I call on the parties to stop the fighting immediately and observe the cease-fire. The sides must show restraint and avoid any further actions or statements that could result in escalation.

The European Union deplores the loss of life, in particular the reports of civilian casualties and deaths.

The European Union fully supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and the three Co-Chairs. We expect both sides to respect strictly the ceasefire, refrain from the use of force and resume efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Statement by Council of Europe of Secretary General Jagland:

“I am dismayed and deeply concerned by the escalation of hostilities at the contact line in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. The Council of Europe urges both sides to stop this totally unnecessary bloodshed which leads nowhere except to further violence and loss of lives including of many civilians. I urge the parties to protect the right to life as guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights and return to the ceasefire and resume peaceful negotiations. This is a humanitarian imperative”

The NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement on the escalation of tensions in the Karabakh conflict zone:

In the early hours of April 2, Azerbaijan initiated an unprecedented and explosive escalation of tension along the line of contact between the armed forces of Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic with the use of heavy armor, artillery and combat aircraft. Azerbaijani armed forces shelled by artillery not only advanced positions of the NKR Defense Army, but also the civilian settlements that resulted in casualties, including among the civilian population.

Such an escalation of tension by Azerbaijan is fraught with unexpected consequences. In this situation, the NKR Defense Army is taking all necessary measures to force Azerbaijan to cease hostilities. Azerbaijan bears full responsibility for possible consequences, a country which once again has initiated irresponsible and senseless adventurism.

We urge the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-office publicly and strongly condemn Azerbaijan for the systematic escalation of the situation, violation of peace and stability in the region.

President Serzh Sargsyan convened the sitting of the National Security Council today. Issues related to the gross violation of the 1994 ceasefire agreement by Azerbaijan and the large-scale military actions against the Nagorno Karabakh Republic were on the agenda of the sitting.

During the sitting, Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan reported on the provocative actions of the Azerbaijani side and the steps taken by Armenian forces to rebuff the aggression.

“Dear colleagues, as you know, the Azerbaijan armed forces undertook provocative actions all along the line of contact with the Karabakh forces. These were the most large-scale military actions ever since 1994 undertaken by the Azerbaijani side.

The NKR Defense Army regained control of the situation thanks to timely and skilled actions. The rival used air force, all types of armored vehicles and artillery. The losses of the Azeri air force, infantry and armored vehicles are sustainable. We also have losses: as of now, 18 are reported killed, 30 wounded,” the President said.

“The provocations continue, there is some tension in the north and south, but the Karabakh forces keep the situation under control,” the President said. He added that measures have been taken to ensure the security of the population in frontline villages.

“I think the Foreign Ministry needs to cooperate with the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs and work towards signing an agreement on mutual assistance. It’s necessary to develop the text of the agreement and hold discussions in the National Assembly. The Republic of Armenia will fully meet its obligations of ensuring the security of the population of Nagorno Karabakh. We have all legal basis for it as a party to the ceasefire agreement signed in 1994.

“Besides the Armed Forces, other agencies are also doing their work, we keep in touch with our partners from international organizations. However, as I have said on many occasions, we have to solve our problems ourselves and not rely upon anyone,” the President said.

The Armenian Defense Ministry declares that that the Azerbaijani reports on invasion of settlements in Nagorno Karabakh, destroyed combat equipment and hundreds of human losses on the Armenian side comprise obvious misinformation and have nothing to do with reality.

The Azerbaijani side is thus trying to justify its own losses, Spokesman of the Armenian ministry of Defense Artsrun Hovhannisyan said in a Facebook post.

The Defense Ministry advises to publish only official information.

Armenian judoka Shahen Abaghyan (55 kg) beat Natiz Gurbanli of Azerbaijan in the final round to win the European Junior European Judo Cup, Press Service of the Armenian National Olympic Committee reports.

The Armenian beat Turkish Celik Emre and Georgians Giorgi Niazashvili and Zurab Kakhniashvili in earlier rounds.

Shahen Abaghyan serves in the Sports Club of the RA Armed Forces and is one of the ten best soldier-sportsmen.

CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha discussed the escalation in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Spokesman of the CSTO Secretary General Vladimir Zaynetdinov told TASS.

“During the conversation the parties reached an agreement on the necessity of ceasing the military actions in the Karabakh conflict zone and taking necessary steps in that direction,” he said.

Zaynetdinov noted that Bordyuzha earlier had a phone conversation with Armenian defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan.

The NKR Defense Army has published photos presenting the losses of the Azerbaijani side in the buffer zone one of the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan.