BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov.4
Trend:
Deposits in the territories of Azerbaijan, which were under Armenian occupation, especially gold mining ones, were barbarously plundered by the Armenians, Head of the National Geological Prospecting Service under the Azerbaijani Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources Ali Aliyev told Trend on Nov.4.
According to Aliyev, businessmen of Armenian origin attracted companies from such countries as Switzerland, Canada, Australia, India and others to this process.
Aliyev noted that most of the Azerbaijani deposits, rich in natural mineral raw materials, are located in the ore zone of the Lesser Caucasus, which is considered the ‘Azerbaijani Ural’. As of 1993, in this region of Azerbaijan, occupied by Armenia, there were 167 deposits with confirmed reserves of ore and nonmetallic raw materials, building materials, underground drinking and thermal mineral waters.
"Some 40 of the deposits are located in Lachin, 34 - in Kalbajar districts, 26 - in Jabrayil, 15 - in Aghdam, 11 - in Tartar, and 11 - in Zangilan districts, 8 - in Shusha city, 4 - in Khojaly, 2 - in Khojavend, and 6 - in Fuzuli districts. The largest deposits of gold, silver and copper in our country were explored in this region," he said.
Armenian Armed Forces launched a large-scale military attack on positions of the Azerbaijani army on the front line, using large-caliber weapons, mortars, and artillery on Sept. 27.
Azerbaijan responded with a counter-offensive along the entire front. As a result of retaliation, Azerbaijani troops liberated a number of territories previously occupied by Armenia, as well as take important, strategic heights under control.
The fighting continued into October 2020, in the early days of which Armenia has launched missile attacks on Azerbaijani cities of Ganja, Mingachevir, Khizi as well as Absheron district.
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, the Armenian Armed Forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.