Azernews.Az

By Mushvig Mehdiyev

Armenian armed forces keep tension high on the contact line, periodically violating the ceasefire and resorting to provocative actions throughout this week.

As a result of Armenian army's firing at Azerbaijan's positions, even at the civilians and their houses at the night on February 5, one of the houses in Alibayli village of Azerbaijan's Tovuz region was burnt and a villager was seriously injured.

"The Armenian armed forces disobey the norms and principles of the international law, deliberately firing at the facilities of non-military significance and civilians in an effort to draw Azerbaijan into a provocation by taking adequate measures," said the Defense Ministry.

The Ministry added that the Azerbaijani army has never targeted civilians and non-military buildings.

"The army of the enemy should be held responsible for its actions against the civilian population. Our armed forces will take more serious, more determined and severer steps to destroy the military facilities of the enemy's armed forces," the Ministry said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry had earlier on February 6 reported about the death of an Azerbaijani soldier as a result of heavy shelling by the Armenian troops on February 5.

Armenia, as always ignores the peaceful negotiations to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan. Even the international mediation for the dispute was not able to urge Armenia to stay committed to its obligations under the ceasefire agreement signed in 1994.

The recent data issued by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's monitoring commission said about 12 people were killed and 18 others wounded as a result of the military outbreaks during January.

Following Armenia's sabotage operations, including the helicopter and UAV (drone) incursions into Azerbaijani territory, the Azerbaijani army sees no option but to give a fitting rebuff to the enemy's attacks. Peaceful end to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a top priority for the Azerbaijani leadership. But, an armed solution to the dispute is not excluded, if the Armenian side keeps on undermining the ceasefire agreement to incite the hostilities.

Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced as a result of the war.

Large-scale hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire in 1994 but Armenia continued the occupation in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions. Peace talks mediated by Russia, France and the U.S. have produced no results so far.