Defense Ministers Council about situation at the confrontation line of Armenian-Azerbaijani troops

On April 25 the Defence Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan colonel-general Zakir Hasanov met with the newly appointed secretary of the CISDefense Ministers Council major-general Yuri Dashkin being in a visit in our country, APA reports.

The minister of defence comprehensively informed the guest about recent events and the current situation at the confrontation line of Armenian-Azerbaijani troops. Colonel-general Hasanov essentially bring to guest attention the facts about being shelled of our settlements and civilians by hostile side.

Emphasizing that more than 20 years the internationally recognized Azerbaijani territories being under Armenian occupation and as a result of it having more than one million internally displaced persons Minister of Defence stressed that the negation process is still ineffective.

Referring to the relations in the military field with the CIS member-countries, colonel general Hasanov mentioned about the existing perspectives for future developing of this cooperation.

Dashkin expressed his satisfaction about his first visit to Azerbaijan within the framework of member countries of the CIS Council of Defense Ministers, stressing the importance of expanding military relations between the member countries.

Colonel-general Hasanov wished success to major general Dashkin on his position of Secretary of the Council of CIS Defense Ministers and in his future activities.

Recall, on the night of April 2 all frontier positions of Azerbaijan were exposed to heavy fire from large-caliber weapons, mortars, grenade launchers and guns. In addition, Azerbaijani settlements near the front line, densely populated by civilians, were shelled.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20% of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US, are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.