Press-release of Permanent Mission concerning recent violations of ceasefire regime by the Republic of Armenia

As a result of numerous acts of provocation against Azerbaijan and the intensive violations of ceasefire regime by Armenia during the recent days, officer of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan, captain Mr. Elnur Jafarov and lieutenant        Mr. Sabuhi Azizov were killed, another civilian was wounded, the school building was fired during the course hours and the private houses and property of the Azerbaijani civilian population residing close to the frontline were massively shelled.

According to the information of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, on 28 January 2014, the armed forces of Armenia violated the ceasefire 196 times from their positions located both in the territory of Armenia and in the occupied areas of Azerbaijan. On 29 January 2014, the number of ceasefire violations by the Armenian side reached 250.

Primary and foremost responsibility for the recent escalation of the situation at the frontline falls directly on Armenia, the country which continues the occupation of the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan and pursues the policy of aggression against Azerbaijan.  The continuation of occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan by the armed forces of Armenia in contradiction with the relevant resolutions of UN Security Council and General Assembly, UN Charter, norms and principles of international law, being the main source of tension, constitutes the major obstacle for the peaceful solution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the establishment of peace in the region.

The Republic of Azerbaijan strongly condemns the provocative actions of the Armenian side, which can in no way contribute to the establishment of confidence between the parties and the resolution of the long-lasting conflict.

The stance of Azerbaijan with regard to the solution to the conflict is crystal-clear. This is based on the resolutions of UN Security Council and General Assembly and norms and principles of international law. The armed forces of Armenia should be withdrawn from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan at the first point in order to achieve the solution of the conflict. That is the shortest and most effective way for the establishment of peace and stability in the region.

 Geneva, 30 January 2014