Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

The Armenian leadership’s continued aggression against Azerbaijan infringes on any hope of a peaceful settlement of the long-lasting Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The conflict first erupted in 1988 with Armenia claiming Azerbaijani territory as its own and engaging in a policy of constant provocations.

With the start of the 2015 year, the Armenian armed forces continued to escalate tension on the contact line of Armenian-Azerbaijani troops, increasing the truce violations that continue in spite of the fragile ceasefire of 1994 which ended a lengthy war between the two south Caucasus countries.

Armenian armed forces have breached the ceasefire with Azerbaijan on average 50 times a day from beginning of January, and some days reaching as many as 80 times. Most of the fire is directed at the frontline settlements by using large-caliber weapons, anti-tank grenade launchers and 60- and 82-millimeter mortars.

Heavy shelling has seriously damaged houses in the villages located on the frontline, not to mention the danger that the intensive firing causes to the life of the civilian population.

A group of journalists, who have recently visited the frontline villages of the Azerbaijan’s Gazakh region, have witnessed the intensive firing by the Armenian armed forces of the Azerbaijani positions.

Talking to the journalists, the residents of the frontline Gushchu Ayrim and Mazam villages of Gazakh region said the Armenian armed units periodically violate ceasefire and shell civilians and houses.

SayaValiyeva, resident of Gushchu Ayrim village said the Armenian forces mostly become active at night. “They are firing at homes in the night until the morning. They fire at any time they want.”

However, journalists were pleasantly surprised with the courage of the villagers that continue to live in their bullet-wrecked houses. Despite all the danger and hard conditions, the population remained on their native lands and continues to engage in their daily life.

Gushchu Ayrim and Mazam villages are among the main frontline villages that are mostly subjected to enemy fire. One can find traces of shelling on every gate and door in these villages.

Despite all risks and difficulties, the villagers, thanks to the powerful Azerbaijani army, have not been bothered by the Armenian bullets. Azerbaijani armed forces respond with appropriate replies to the enemy's provocations.

Another villager Orkhan Hajiyev said Azerbaijani servicemen give worthy answer to the enemy, noting that they rely on strength of the Azerbaijani army.

Despite the fact that Armenian troops target the civilian population, Azerbaijani armed forces respond to them firing only at the military points.

On the other hand, the Armenian side is mostly damaging itself with the ceasefire violations as the Armenians living near the frontline are leaving those areas.

Azerbaijani soldiers, who serve on the frontline units, said the Armenian villages on the opposite side of the frontline have already became empty. The servicemen said the number of the people in the Armenian villages has tended to decline, more and more people are leaving those villages.

However, the current condition doesn’t withhold the Armenian armed forces from their provocative actions on the frontline. They aggravate the situation on the frontline ignoring the calls by the international community.

The international organizations and world powers continue to turn a blind eye to Armenia's aggressive policy despite obvious violation of international norms and laws by the Armenian armed forces.

As a result of Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan more than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over one million were displaced following the large-scale hostilities in early 1990s. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions.

Armenia continues the occupation in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal of armed forces.

Peace talks brokered by mediators from Russia, France and the U.S. have produced no results so far because of Armenia’s non-constructive position in the negotiations on the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

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