Baku, Azerbaijan, March 17
By Ilkin Izzet - Trend:
The Armenian armed forces violated the ceasefire by shooting at positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces in the direction of Fizuli region on March 17. Twenty year-old Elvin Hasanov died of a gunshot wound, the Defense Ministry reported.
The report noted that Hasanov was posthumously awarded with a medal "For distinguished service in the military service" of the third degree upon Defense Minister, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov's order.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the
liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
Translated by S.I.
Edited by C.N.