Details added (first version posted on 11:31)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 12
Trend:
Another provocation by Armenia attempted in the direction of Azerbaijan’s Gazakh district, has been prevented, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in a message Feb. 12.
The provocation aimed at violating the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border, said the message.
“On Feb. 11 morning, taking advantage of the foggy weather, Armenian servicemen attempted to cross the Azerbaijani army positions,” the message noted. “The UAZ vehicle with the Armenian Armed Forces’ reconnaissance and sabotage group inside, moving in the direction of Azerbaijani positions, was timely detected.”
“As a result of Azerbaijan’s preventive actions, the attempt of the Armenian reconnaissance and sabotage group to move ahead was prevented,” said the message. “The group abandoned the vehicle and hurried back to its positions. The sabotage group also opened fire at the vehicle, destroying it, while retreating back.”
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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.