AZERBAIJAN: TENSIONS HIGH, EXCHANGE OF FIRE CONTINUES
Today's Zaman
Sept 7 2010
Turkey
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on Sunday that tensions are
high along the battle line between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces,
as the warring sides exchanged heavy gunfire in five separate locations
for hours over the weekend.
The border skirmishes are aimed at harassing the opposite side rather
than achieving a certain goal.
Armenian armed forces shot at Azerbaijani military positions in the
hills in Khojavend province all day long on Sunday, Azerbaijani media
reported. The Armenian side again opened fire early Monday morning
in Terter, Dashkesen, Aghdam and Goranboy provinces. The Azerbaijani
Defense Ministry said the attacks were all repulsed by Azerbaijani
military forces.
However, the Armenian side has provided a different account of events
and said on Monday that Azerbaijani military forces fired over 5,000
rounds on Armenian military units over the weekend. "Upon receiving
our response, the shooting ceased," said Armenia. Neither side reported
any casualties after the heavy gunfire.
Two Azerbaijani soldiers were killed on Saturday in a border skirmish
with Armenian forces in the province of Terter. Earlier last week on
Tuesday three Armenian and two Azerbaijani soldiers were killed in
an exchange of gunfire along the northern Nagorno-Karabakh frontline.
Peter Semneby, the EU representative for the South Caucasus, said
as he was visiting Baku on Sunday that the EU is concerned over the
border skirmishes. He said the incidents underline the urgency of
the need to focus more on peace talks between the two sides.
From: A. Papazian
Today's Zaman
Sept 7 2010
Turkey
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on Sunday that tensions are
high along the battle line between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces,
as the warring sides exchanged heavy gunfire in five separate locations
for hours over the weekend.
The border skirmishes are aimed at harassing the opposite side rather
than achieving a certain goal.
Armenian armed forces shot at Azerbaijani military positions in the
hills in Khojavend province all day long on Sunday, Azerbaijani media
reported. The Armenian side again opened fire early Monday morning
in Terter, Dashkesen, Aghdam and Goranboy provinces. The Azerbaijani
Defense Ministry said the attacks were all repulsed by Azerbaijani
military forces.
However, the Armenian side has provided a different account of events
and said on Monday that Azerbaijani military forces fired over 5,000
rounds on Armenian military units over the weekend. "Upon receiving
our response, the shooting ceased," said Armenia. Neither side reported
any casualties after the heavy gunfire.
Two Azerbaijani soldiers were killed on Saturday in a border skirmish
with Armenian forces in the province of Terter. Earlier last week on
Tuesday three Armenian and two Azerbaijani soldiers were killed in
an exchange of gunfire along the northern Nagorno-Karabakh frontline.
Peter Semneby, the EU representative for the South Caucasus, said
as he was visiting Baku on Sunday that the EU is concerned over the
border skirmishes. He said the incidents underline the urgency of
the need to focus more on peace talks between the two sides.
From: A. Papazian