Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.14
By Ilkin Izzet - Trend:
The situation in the area where the downed Armenian helicopter fell, is normal, Azerbaijani Defense Ministry told Trend on Nov.14.
The mentioned helicopter was shot down by Azerbaijani armed forces in the country's Aghdam district.
The information, previously spread by Armenia about "intensive firefight" in the zone, was dismissed by the ministry as being false.
No comments were provided on operation of removing the helicopter wreckage from the area, and recovering the bodies of Armenian soldiers presumably killed in the incident.
On Nov. 12, at 13:45 (UTC/GMT +4 hours) Armenian Mi-24 helicopters flying 1,700 meters northeast of the Kengerli village of Azerbaijan's Aghdam district attacked the Azerbaijani army positions. One of the helicopters was downed by the Azerbaijani armed forces, while the other one had to leave the territory. The wreckage of the downed helicopter fell on an area, located 500 meters away from the frontline.
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 the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
Edited by SI