RA Defense Ministry: withdrawal of snipers is suggestion of OSCE Minsk Group

July 4, 2010 - 15:29 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijani Defense Ministry Spokesman Eldar Sabiroglu stated that the initiative of Armenia on withdrawal of snipers from the contact line will not solve the problem.

In response to this statement, the press service of the RA Defense Ministry reiterated that the withdrawal of snipers is a suggestion of the OSCE Minsk Group, to which Armenia has agreed. "It could ease the situation at the contact line and decrease the number of human losses," reads the statement.

Besides, the RA Defense Ministry stresses that instead of taking a constructive stance on the Karabakh conflict settlement, the military and political leadership of Azerbaijan continuously makes bellicose statements, threats of war and disseminates disinformation, what does not contribute to the conflict resolution and even worsens the situation at the Armenian-Azerbaijani contact line.

The statement also refutes Baku's statements on violation of the ceasefire regime by the Armenian side. "We do state once again that the military units of the Armenian armed forces strictly follow the ceasefire regime and undertake retaliatory measures only in case of firing by the enemy. And the June 18 intrusion of the Azerbaijani subversive group is a vivid evidence of it," reads the statement of the RA Defense Ministry.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.