CSTO slams Azerbaijan over Karabakh conflict escalationApril 2, 2016 - 16:41 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The head of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) accused Azerbaijan on Saturday, April 2 of escalating the situation in Nagorno Karabakh, a spokesperson for the CSTO Secretary-General said, Russian media report. “Everything must be settled through negotiations,” Vladimir Zaynetdinov said. “The Azerbaijani side’s actions lead to an escalation of the conflict.” According to Zaynetdinov, the Armenian Defense Ministry is providing the CSTO leadership with full information about the clashes along the Karabakh line of contact. “We believe there is no military solution to the conflict,” he said. On the night of April 1-2, Azerbaijani armed forces initiated overt offensive operations in the southern, southeastern and northeastern directions of the line of contact with Nagorno Karabakh, using artillery, armored fighting vehicles and air force equipment among other weapons. Aside from the battles on the frontline, the rival has also carried out artillery strikes on civilian settlements and places of permanent deployment of several military units. On April 2, at around 8:30 am, the rival used BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher in the Martuni direction of the contact line. 12-year-old Vaghinak Grigoryan was killed in the shelling, two more children were wounded. Earleir, the Nagorno Karabakh special forces identified an Azerbaijani subversive group near the Levonarkh settlement and threw the saboteurs back to their positions. According to Armenia’s Defense Ministry, the rival troops retreated after suffering several human losses. Read also:Azerbaijan used Grad rocket launcher to bomb Karabakh school: hospital Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |