Tweet
SECURITY GROUP WARNS ON ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN FIGHTING
World Bulletin, Turkey
Nov 14 2014
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe concerned about
escalation of conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
World Bulletin/News Desk
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe on Thursday
expressed concern about the escalation of conflict between Arzerbaijan
and Armenia, a day after Azerbaijan shot down an Armenian helicopter.
Didier Burkhalter, the organization's chairman, said the concern
stemmed from the recent downing of an Armenian helicopter by
Arzerbaijani Armed Forces near the "Line of Contact" on Wednesday.
On Nov.12, Armenia's military aircraft opened fire at the positions of
the Azerbaijani Armed Forces at Nagorno Karabakh, a region in western
Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan's defense forces shot down the helicopter
and the three crew members were killed in the incident, according to
reports from Azerbaijan's defense ministry.
"We are deeply worried by the events that prompted this drastic
incident, the first of its kind since the cease-fire agreement was
reached," Burkhalter said in a statement.
He called for "strict adherence to the cease-fire, and full respect of
previously made commitments -- these are indispensable for attaining
the level of confidence necessary to agree on a settlement in the
conflict."
The chairman urges "the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to
respect the cease-fire and to honor the commitments they made in Sochi,
Newport, and Paris to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict."
Russia's foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich also called
Azerbaijan and Armenia "to keep away from steps that would escalate
the tension" on Thursday.
On May 12, 1994 a cease-fire agreement was signed between Azerbaijan
and Armenia after two decades of conflict about a territorial dispute.
Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's
territory.
In February 1988, the regional parliament in Nagorno-Karabakh,
Azerbaijan, which is largely populated by ethnic Armenians, voted to
declare its independence from Azerbaijan.
Armenia's parliament voted to recognize that independence and that
forced the evacuation of over 200,000 ethnic Azerbaijanis from
Armenia. Thousands of Azeri civilians lost their lives during the
conflict.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan army has conducted a military exercises with more
than 5 thousand troops, 40 warships and boats, 58 missile systems, 20
fighter aircraft and 50 different air defense systems and helicopters
in the Caspian sea. "The exercises will continue until Nov.17,"
Azerbaijan's defense ministery said.
http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/148327/security-group-warns-on-armenia-azerbaijan-fighting
World Bulletin, Turkey
Nov 14 2014
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe concerned about
escalation of conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
World Bulletin/News Desk
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe on Thursday
expressed concern about the escalation of conflict between Arzerbaijan
and Armenia, a day after Azerbaijan shot down an Armenian helicopter.
Didier Burkhalter, the organization's chairman, said the concern
stemmed from the recent downing of an Armenian helicopter by
Arzerbaijani Armed Forces near the "Line of Contact" on Wednesday.
On Nov.12, Armenia's military aircraft opened fire at the positions of
the Azerbaijani Armed Forces at Nagorno Karabakh, a region in western
Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan's defense forces shot down the helicopter
and the three crew members were killed in the incident, according to
reports from Azerbaijan's defense ministry.
"We are deeply worried by the events that prompted this drastic
incident, the first of its kind since the cease-fire agreement was
reached," Burkhalter said in a statement.
He called for "strict adherence to the cease-fire, and full respect of
previously made commitments -- these are indispensable for attaining
the level of confidence necessary to agree on a settlement in the
conflict."
The chairman urges "the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to
respect the cease-fire and to honor the commitments they made in Sochi,
Newport, and Paris to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict."
Russia's foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich also called
Azerbaijan and Armenia "to keep away from steps that would escalate
the tension" on Thursday.
On May 12, 1994 a cease-fire agreement was signed between Azerbaijan
and Armenia after two decades of conflict about a territorial dispute.
Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's
territory.
In February 1988, the regional parliament in Nagorno-Karabakh,
Azerbaijan, which is largely populated by ethnic Armenians, voted to
declare its independence from Azerbaijan.
Armenia's parliament voted to recognize that independence and that
forced the evacuation of over 200,000 ethnic Azerbaijanis from
Armenia. Thousands of Azeri civilians lost their lives during the
conflict.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan army has conducted a military exercises with more
than 5 thousand troops, 40 warships and boats, 58 missile systems, 20
fighter aircraft and 50 different air defense systems and helicopters
in the Caspian sea. "The exercises will continue until Nov.17,"
Azerbaijan's defense ministery said.
http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/148327/security-group-warns-on-armenia-azerbaijan-fighting