Artsakh serviceman killed in Azeri firing

PanARMENIAN.Net - An Armenian serviceman was killed in the fire commenced by the Azerbaijani side on March 17.

According to the press office of the Artsakh defense army, Aharon Hayrapetyan, 19, died in the hospital from a fatal wound.

“Azerbaijan’s firing upon Armenian positions after the March 5 Sochi presidential statement and several hours after the exchange of POWs proves that Azerbaijan not only violates the ceasefire but also ignores peace efforts to resolve the conflict. This fact should receive a proper assessment by the international organizations engaged in resolution of the conflict,” the defense army said.

The joint statement adopted by the Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents in Sochi reads that the Presidents “considered matters of practical implementation of the trilateral statement adopted during the October 27, 2010, meeting in Astrakhan.” Specifically, the Presidents agreed to finalize the swap of POWs as soon as possible. The document stresses the parties’ willingness “to solve all disputable matters peacefully and conduct investigation of possible incidents along the ceasefire line under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group through the assistance of Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.”