Defense Ministry: Frontline defense to be strengthened
By Rashid Shirinov
The frontline defense of Azerbaijani Armed Forces in areas liberated from the Armenian occupation in the April clashes will be strengthened.
This was stated at a board meeting held in the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on the results of combat training of the country’s Armed Forces on August 30, the ministry reported.
During the meeting, deputy defense ministers and commanders of military formations of Azerbaijan reported about the state of combat readiness and discipline in the country’s Armed Forces, completed tasks, ongoing activities, achievements, problems and their solutions. Moreover, there was held an extensive exchange of views on short and long term prospects.
Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov stressed that the Azerbaijani people and the leadership of the country highly appreciate the activities of the army.
Hasanov gave officials further instructions on equipping military units with advanced weapons, ammunition and armed vehicles, improving the combat readiness of the personnel, strengthening their psychological condition and discipline, as well as enhancing their social conditions.
At the end, proposals presented at the board meeting were discussed and the draft decision adopted.
The Azerbaijani Armed Forces freed more than 2,000 hectares of land, and even a larger area from an operational point of view came under the control of Azerbaijani armed forces during the April clashes.
The situation on the frontline aggravated on April 2 after the Armenian military units in the occupied lands began shelling Azerbaijan’s positions with large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers. The armed clashes resulted in deaths and injuries among the Azerbaijani population. Azerbaijan responded with a counter-attack, which led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements.
The Azerbaijani Armed Forces liberated important heights and territories of strategic significance in Agdere district, as well as in the Fizuli and Jabrail districts from the occupation during the counter-offensive following the enemy's attack.
Azerbaijan and Armenia declared a truce brokered by Russia on April 5. But, still Armenia continues to breach the ceasefire, firing the worst violence in more than 20 years in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions.
The OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, proceeding talks based on the renewed Madrid principles.
---
Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
