Baku, Azerbaijan, March 18
By Ilkin Izzet - Trend:
Over the past 24 hours, Armenian military 50 times violated ceasefire on various parts of the contact line between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said March 18.
Azerbaijani army positions also came under fire from Armenians stationed near the villages of Gulustan of the Goranboy district, Chilyaburt of the Tartar district, Yusifjanli, Shuraabad, Sarijali, Javakhirli, Qaraqashli, Shirvanli, Namirli, Kengerli, Shikhlar of the Aghdam district, Kuropatkino of the Khojavand district, Horadiz, Qarakhanbayli, Ashagi Seyidahmadli, Ashagi Veyselli of the Fuzuli district and Mehdili of the Jabrail district.
Armenians also opened fire from the nameless heights in the Goranboy, Khojavend, Fizuli districts.
The opposing side was silenced with return fire.
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 percent 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 four UN Security Council resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.