Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

It seems that Armenia, whose aggressive policy against its neighbor resulted in emergence of the long-lasting Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, has finally recognized that it can no more resist the just stance of Azerbaijan.

Serzh Sargsyan, the head of the predatory regime in Armenia, has made a loud remark on April 4 saying that Yerevan is ready for compromises in the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

This statement can be regarded a step backwards of the invaders in their occupation policy. However, should we believe the statement? Armenia is the very country that resorts to provocations every time when the peace talks on the conflict resolution is close to breakthrough. Armenia is the country which invaded its neighbor’s historical territories and pursued the policy of ethnic cleaning against Azerbaijanis, forced over 1 million Azerbaijanis to leave their homes and live the life of a refugee.

A precarious cease-fire was signed in 1994, but the Armenian forces committed armistice breaches on the frontline almost every day since then. The recent hostilities are also the result of Armenia’s provocation against Azerbaijani army and civilian population.

Azerbaijani MP Aydin Mirzazade believes that Sargsyan’s move is nothing but a ruse.

He [Sargsyan] has stated a condition that all the armed forces should return to their positions as of April 1, 2016, which is nonsense, Mirzazade stressed. “Armenia is again trying to deceive the international community,” he believes.

The MP noted that those wishing to reach a peace should withdraw the occupation forces from Azerbaijan’s occupied territories, instead of demanding the Azerbaijani Armed Forces to return the liberated areas.

The Azerbaijani side, commenting on Sargsyan’s statement, announced that Baku is ready for a ceasefire, however the Armenian troops must withdraw from all the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in line with the UN Security Council resolutions.

Hikmet Hajiyev, Spokesperson for Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry told Trend that Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty should be ensured within its internationally recognized borders.

The spokesperson reminded that Azerbaijan decided to unilaterally suspend the counterattack and response measures on April 3, but the Armenian side did not obey the ceasefire.

Long-simmering tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan flared up again on April 2 when the Armenian side began to shell the Azerbaijani positions and settlements along the frontline.

This resulted in the killing of two civilians and injuring of 10 another, including a 13-year-old child. More than 10 houses as well as local people`s property were also damaged.

To protect civilian population, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces launched counter attacks and repulsed the enemy forces back. The Azerbaijani troops retook hills around the village of Talish capable of posing threat to Goranboy region and the town of Naftalan, as well as Seysulan settlement, and also took over Lale Tepe hill located in the direction of the Fuzuli region.
Six Armenian tanks, 15 gun mounts and reinforced engineering structures were destroyed and more than 100 Armenian servicemen were wounded and killed during the shootouts.

Twelve servicemen of the Azerbaijani armed forces heroically died, one Mi-24 helicopter was shot down and one tank damaged by a mine.

Despite Azerbaijan's decision on unilateral suspension of the counter-attacks and response measures in the territories occupied by Armenia, the Armenian Armed Forces resumed shelling of Azerbaijani positions along the line of contact on the night of April 4.

Azerbaijan`s defense ministry announced that Azerbaijan and Armenia have agreed to cease operations on the line of contact starting from 12.00, April 5.