Official news
Azerbaijan and Tajikistan reached an agreement on oil and gas co-operation. Such a decision was made during the first official visit of the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahman, to Azerbaijan. In addition, the sides signed agreements on Co-operation in the sphere of Free Trade, on Co-operation in the sphere of Science and Technology, on Co-operation on avoidance of double taxation, on Education Co-operation, on IT Co-operation, on Co-operation between Justice Ministries of the two countries, on Co-operation in the sphere of statistics, on Co-operation on principles of collection of indirect taxes for goods and services, on Co-operation in the sphere of metallurgy. The Presidents of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and Tajikistan, Emomali Rahman, signed a joint declaration.
Ironing out tensions with Iran is possibly the only political-diplomatic way, Tajikistan President, Emomali Rahmonov, who is visiting Azerbaijan stated at a joint press conference after talks with Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev.
"The future of Iran, which is connected with Tajikistan language-wise, culturally and through other commonalities, cannot be indifferent to us. We are convinced that this is the only political-diplomatic way to remove all sensitive issues," Tajikistan President noted.
The Azerbaijani Embassy will open in Tajikistan in the near future. The decision was made during the meeting with the Azerbaijani and Tajikistan Presidents in Baku on 13 August.
Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, stated after the meeting that both countries were seriously co-operating with regards to international organizations and constantly supporting each other in all issues. "We have a very long-lasting political relationship. The important indicator paid to bilateral co-operation is the decision to open an embassy which will begin operations in the near future," President Aliyev said.
President Aliyev stated at a joint press conference with the Tajikistan that efficient and dynamic cooperation was beginning between the two countries. He voiced his hope that all Azerbaijani and Tajikistan organizations will work efficiently on economic integration.
From this standpoint he especially stressed the establishment of the Azerbaijan-Tajikistan inter-governmental commission, the agreement which was achieved during the meeting of the presidents. "The commission will work over specific projects and provide favourable conditions for business structures of both countries," President Aliyev concluded.
Everything in settling the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh depends on both countries, the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, has stated during the press-conference with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.
"Knowing the Presidents of both countries, I believe that they will do everything to keep peace and stability in South Caucasus, E.Rahmon noted. According to the President, there has been threat for peace and stability both in the South Caucasus and in Central Asia.
" Tajikistan as a country, suffered all horrors of war is a supporter of peace settling of all existing conflicts, including the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh," E.Rahmon added.
The president positively appreciated will of both countries to keep negotiations in spite of all existing difficulties. Emomali Rahmon considers that creation of the Institute of OSCE's Minsk Group will allow to active the process of peace negotiations.
Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, received a delegation led by US Assistant Secretary of State, co-chair of the US-Azerbaijan Economic Partnership Commission, Daniel Sullivan.
Head of the Azerbaijan State stated successful development of co-op ties between the two countries in numerous fields, including in the economy and energy spheres. Noting the importance of energy cooperation for the entire region being realized in the US-Azerbaijan format, President Aliyev said that now is the significant phase of development of the country's energy projects. The current visit will make special contribution to further development of this cooperation, he emphasized.
Mr. Sullivan stressed the importance of the MoU on partnership in energy safety signed between the United States and Azerbaijan, to develop cooperation in the years ahead.
By the order of Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, issued on 16 August 2007 the documents signed in Baku at the second meeting of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM ( Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova) on 19 July 2007 were approved.
The Protocol on Cooperation in Culture between GUAM members for 2007-2010 and the Memorandum on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Nuclear and Radiation Security between the governments of GUAM countries are among the signed documents.
The Cabinet of Ministers was charged with fulfilment of the work necessary for implementation of the documents.
Sri Lanka is interested in development of economic relations with Azerbaijan, including energy field, Sri Lanka's Export & International Trade Minister, George Peiris, stated at the meeting with Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, on 17 August.
President Aliyev voiced his confidence that the finishing visit of Sri Lanka delegation would contribute to extension of bilateral cooperation in economic field.
Foreign policy
Iran is openly stating its mission to change the world governing system in favour of the interests of the nation. The Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, stated this at the meeting with the Iranian diplomatic corps abroad. Iran's foreign policy must rest upon these principles and should be presented to the international community, according to the message of the President publicized by Iranian Embassy in Azerbaijan.
Ahmadinejad noted that all relations and international laws in the world must be implemented based upon justice principles and people must equally exercise their rights.
According to the Iranian President, lasting security in the region can be achieved on the basis of justice and the violation of the rights of the nations, including the spread of terrorism, rests upon the injustice of the world's powerful people, the report says.
MP Aydin Mirzazadeh, a member of the Permanent Commission for Defense Issue of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) and member of the Azerbaijan delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, has stated that the construction of a new Radar station on the southern borders of Russia would not lead to the non-utilization of the Gabala radar station by Russia. The MP noted that Gabala radar station has implemented supervision function and meets international standards. "If Russia refuses the Gabala radar station, Baku has the right to use the station at its own free will, Mirzazadeh noted.
Russia's plans regarding the construction of a new radar station on the southern borders of the country is due to the Russian-American and Russian-European current relations, concerning USA's desire to be allocated similar radar stations in the territory of Poland and Czechia.
This step by Moscow is aimed at putting pressure and has of a propaganda nature. The construction of a radar station on the southern borders of Russia does not cause a danger for Azerbaijan, Mirzazadeh said. "Russian-Azerbaijani relations are normal. Russia is satisfactorily utilising the potential of the Azerbaijani Gabala radar station. Concerning Russia's great military potential, MP noted that the military sphere needs re-armament modernization.
Azerbaijan can act as a guarantor in the Middle East process. "If Azerbaijan Republic presents the initiative that will mean the country will consider all consequences and all its actions and hopes it has some chances," an MP of Israeli Knesset (Parliament), the head of Azerbaijani-Israeli international organization, Iosif Shagal, stated from Tel-Aviv on 14 August.
We welcome any country which presents such an initiative, he said. According to Shagal, along with official co-sponsors of peaceful settlement which are the UN, EU, United States, and Russia, now Egypt and Jordan and other countries joint. Azerbaijan also can join the process, he said.
Russia and China's support to the third resolution of the UN Security Council against Iran is linked with the probability of Iran's transforming into a strong country in Middle Asia.
"The first reason for the immediate reaction of the foreign forces against the nuclear program of Iran is the dangerous strengthening of Iran in the region," said the Iranian politician who functions in the USA and is also the Editor-In-Chief of the 'International' magazine, Mohsen Ebrahimi.
On 13 August the BBC channel advised the Foreign Relations Committee of the British Parliament to toughen up the sanctions with regards to Iran. In addition, the channel informed of the expansion of Iran's interference in the Near East and strengthening of the crisis.
Ebrahimi said on 14 August from Toronto via telephone that the most important result of the successive visits of the representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and discussions became the third resolution against Iran.
"The UN Security Council approved the third resolution against Iran. This resolution is linked with the atomic program of Iran," Ibrahimi said. UN Security Council member countries including Russia and China are for the first time supporting the USA in resolution against Iran.
Ebrahimi noted that Russia has signed an agreement with Iran on provision Bushehr nuclear station with fuel. However, Russia has recently dramatically decreased nuclear fuel supplies to Iran. Russia says that Iran has large debts to the country due to Iran's nuclear program. Nevertheless, the reason is different. Obtaining a nuclear bomb, Iran wants to become the single power in the region from the standpoint of political and nuclear sphere. Russia regards fortification of Islamic movement, especially in the countries located north of Iran, as a threat. Therefore, taking Iran's debts as an excuse, Russia impedes development of the nuclear program.
Along with military sanctions imposed for sale of armaments to Iran, the third resolution includes an economic sanction which demands to freeze foreign accounts of Iranian's Saderat and Sipah banks. Thus, foreign bank accounts of the chairmen of Iranian Sipah Pasdaran military forces were restricted.
"Despite harsh reactions and economic sanctions Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and other forces, insist on the creation of a nuclear bomb," the politician noted.
He sees no trouble with Iran's nuclear activities and even in production of peaceful nuclear energy.
" Iran has enough oil and gas reserves. Moreover, it is not known where the wastes of nuclear activities will be liquidated," he said.
Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli Deputy Prime Minister, stated on 16 August that Jews live in security and tolerance in Azerbaijan, in the opening ceremony of the Jewish Culture Centre at the Israeli Embassy in Baku.
"It was in the past and it will be in the future," Lieberman said. He underlined the active role of the Jewish Diaspora in the public and political life of Azerbaijan.
Israel is interested in expanding its relations between both countries.
The official part of the visit began with the visiting of the grave of the former Azerbaijani President, Heydar Aliyev, at the Cemetery of Honours.
Later Lieberman will meet with Artur Rasizadeh, the head of the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan, and Nazim Ibrahimov, the Chairman of State Commission on Work with Azerbaijanis Residing Abroad.
On 17 August, Lieberman will hold a meeting with Valeh Alaskarov, the Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament and Heydar Babayev, the Azerbaijani Minister of Economic Development.
Lieberman will visit Krasnaya Slaboda village of the Guba region of Azerbaijan, and meet with the representatives of European communities in Azerbaijan.
The member of Knesset and also Head of the Azerbaijani-Israeli International Association 'AZIZ', Josef Shagal, who is on the visit to Baku, highlighted the interest of Israel towards Azerbaijani gas on 16 August.
According to him, concrete talks are already held in this regard. The possible amount of the Israeli purchases is being clarified. Speaking of the energy co-operation between the two countries, the Israeli parliamentarian said that currently Israel is the biggest consumer of the Azerbaijani oil after Italy. The large part of the gross trade turnover between the two countries is formed by oil. In this context, Shagal expressed interest of the Israeli side in extending Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline up to the port of Eylat, which will facilitate delivery of the Azerbaijani oil to Israel.
Touching up on the mass burial of the people of European nationality which has been discovered in Azerbaijan's region of Guba, Shagal said that if they are confirmed, the Government of Israel may raise the question before the international organizations to recognize the genocide fact.
Highlighting the absence of the Azerbaijani embassy in Israel, he stressed that a trade representation of Azerbaijan is expected to be opened in Israel in the near future. In addition, the Israeli parliamentarian expressed his positive attitude and interest towards trilateral co-operation of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Israel with regards to the military security.
Political movements
MP Mubariz Gurbanli, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), has stated that the Party is seriously getting prepared for the upcoming Azerbaijan 2008 presidential elections. The next presidential elections in Azerbaijan will be held in 15 October 2008. The ruling party has stated its intension to nominate the current chairman of the Party, Ilham Aliyev.
The New Azerbaijan Party has had excellent election experience, having participated in different elections. Furthermore, the most updated election equipment is utilized and Gurbanli noted that the Party also has submitted quality documents regarding elections.
The New Azerbaijan Party was founded in Nakhchivan in 1992. Heydar Aliyev, the former President of Azerbaijan, was the first chairman of the party. Presently, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, is the chairman of the party.
MP Siyavush Novruzov, Deputy Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, has stated that the unwillingness of the Azerbaijani Opposition Party to participate in the forthcoming presidential elections reveals the parties' weakness.
"The opposition has no influence both in the country and abroad. Therefore, boycotting the forthcoming presidential elections will not affect this process," MP said.
Opposition parties have declared that if changes are not injected in the election legislation of Azerbaijan and the election commission to be formed on a parity basis with the participation of both the opposition and the New Azerbaijan Party, opposition parties will not attend the 2008 presidential elections.
"The polls have revealed that the candidate from the New Azerbaijan Party for presidential elections 2008, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, will win by majority votes. It means that opposition parties will lose the impeding elections and in order to avoid embarrassment they do not want to participate in the elections," MP added.
The Azerbaijani opposition Party has boycotted several elections, including the presidential elections in 1998. At that time the opposition parties demanded changes to the election legislation and to form an election commission on a parity basis. The largest Azerbaijani opposition bloc of Azadlyg and Rasul Guliyev, the leader of the Azerbaijani Open Society Party, stated that they would not participate in the forthcoming presidential elections.
The Azerbaijani election commission is formed from MPs of the ruling party, represented in the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) and independent MPs. International organizations have demanded the re-establishment of the election commission. For this reason, the European organizations are holding negotiations with the Azerbaijani Government.
Azerbaijani Azadlyg bloc will begin active political activities concerned with the organization of mass demonstrations in the autumn, the co-chairman of the Azadlyg, the chairman of the Citizen and Development Party (CDP), Ali Aliyev, reported.
Recently Azadlyg has not been politically active which the co-chairman believes is due to the summer season.
However, according to him, the political bloc has already defined the directions of its future activities. "The work will be mainly geared towards the struggle for freedom of meetings and changing of the election legislation. Joint executive organizations of the parties represented in the bloc will be established and the activities of the election committees of the bloc will be intensified. Precise decisions have not been taken in this connection," Aliyev said.
The co-chairman noted the importance of mass demonstrations for the political struggle.
Azadlyg includes three opposition parties - the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, the Liberal party, and the Citizens and Development Party.
Araz Alizadeh, the Co-Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (SDPA), considers the nomination of one candidate from the opposition party for the upcoming presidential elections 2008 to be impossible.
"The idea regarding nomination of one candidate from opposition camp aimed to suppress pre-election campaign of candidates. Such discussions create imagination that the result of the elections depends on nomination of one candidate from opposition camp," Alizadeh said.
Presently, the Azerbaijani opposition camp is holding discussions to define the candidate to participate at the upcoming presidential election. Similar discussions have been held in the past with no agreement being reached.
Alizadeh noted that his party was a left-wing party which cannot support the candidature from the right-wing party. There is no other left-wing party in Azerbaijan except for the SDPA and therefore the left-wing party cannot choose one candidate.
SDPA is a left-wing party of Azerbaijan. The leader of the party is Ayaz Mutallibov, the former first President of Azerbaijan.
The active Electoral Code of Azerbaijan is a perfect document in which the recommendations of the OSCE, Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and election experience of Azerbaijan have been taken into consideration, said the Deputy Executive Secretary of ruling New Azerbaijan Party, MP Mubariz Gurbanli. "Re-considering the document is envisaged by the legislation, as well as the amendments to the Code is the requirement of the time, but the Electoral Code of Azerbaijan is not in need of improvement," Gurbanli said.
The opposition parties will not participated in 2008 Presidential elections in Azerbaijan if amendments are not made to the Code. The international organizations also support amendments to the Code. The talks on this issue are continuing between European organizations and Government of Azerbaijan. The next discussions will take place in September.
According to the MP, wishes not to change key principles of the Electoral Code from the principal and conceptual point of view. According to him, the Code reflects mutual interests of political parties. Gurbanli considers that technical amendments may be made to the Code.
Ali Aliyev, the Co-Chairman of the political bloc of Azadlyg and the Chairman of the Citizen and Development Party (CDP) of Azerbaijan, has stated that Azadlyg will begin discussions to define a single candidate from the bloc to be nominated at the upcoming presidential elections in 2008. There will be no problems in defining the candidature.
Presently, the Azerbaijani opposition camp is holding discussions to define the candidate to participate in the upcoming presidential election. Similar discussions have been held in the past with no agreement being reached.
The Azadlyg bloc unites three opposition parties. The leaders of two of the parties, Ali Karimli, the Chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, and Lala Shovkat, the Chairman of the National Unity Movement, wish to nominate their own candidature.
The leadership of Azadlyg stated that the bloc will not participate in the forthcoming presidential elections in 2008 and does not want changes to be injected in the election legislation of the country. Aliyev noted that if these issues are to be resolved, the bloc will define its candidature for elections.
"The impeding presidential elections have very important essence for ruling the New Azerbaijan Party. We will know our rivals during the election campaign," MP Mubariz Gurbanli, the Deputy Executive Secretary of New Azerbaijan party said.
MP Siyavush Novruzov, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), stated that the party has developed a range of bills, which will be submitted for consideration during the Parliament's autumn session.
The drafts of the bills will be submitted to the corresponding commissions of the Parliament on 15 September. The experts of NAP and MPs are developing drafts of the fifth and sixth bills.
Nagorno-Karabakh
The newly-appointed Ambassador of Germany to Armenia, Andrea Joana-Maria Wiktorin, stated on 13 August, during the handing over of his credentials to the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Vardan Oskanyan that Germany is interested in the prompt settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"The Ambassador said that although Germany is not a co-chair to the OSCE Minsk Group and has not been actively involved in the peaceful settlement of the conflict, the Country is interested in the prompt settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and establishing stability in the region," the Press Department of the Armenian Foreign Ministry informed ARKA.
At Wiktorin's request, the Armenian Foreign Minister briefly reported on the negotiations process on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement
Khazar Ibrahim, the Press-Secretary of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, stated that the Armenian attempt to promote 'development' in the Azerbaijani occupied territories is a cheap publicity stunt, commenting on the information about recent visits of American, Canadian, French, Austrian, German, and Russian citizens to Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Armenian sources reported that about 2,000 foreign citizens visited the conflicted area between January and July 2007. This figure is up 60% more than the same period in 2006.
"The visit of foreign citizens to Nagorno-Karabakh is being implemented through the support of the Armenian Diaspora. They cannot demonstrate development in the Azerbaijani occupied territories," the Press-Secretary of the Ministry stated.
The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in 1988 due to Armenian claims to Azerbaijani territories. Since 1992, Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijani land including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding Districts. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France, and USA) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.
Azerbaijanis with a mental disease should be released from the captivity, said the Council of Europe's Rapporteur for Missing People in South Caucasus countries, Leo Platvoet, in his interview with Trend.
"Generally spoken, people with a mental disease should not be in prison but in a special hospital," he said.
Two Azerbaijanis with mental diseases are in Armenian captivity: Anar Aliyev, who was taken prisoner at the beginning of August and Ashraf Jafarov, who was taken prisoner at the beginning of July. Both prisoners are civil citizens.
"If Armenia and Azerbaijan will both participate in the European structures and NATO, then they should stop taking each other soliders to prison," Platvoet stressed.
Five people are in captivity in both countries. The Azerbaijani captive in Armenia is a soldier of the National Army of Azerbaijan, Samir Mammadov (taken prisoner in December 2006). The Armenian captives kept in Azerbaijan are Armenian soldiers, Ambartsum Asaturyan (taken prisoner at the beginning of August) and civil citizen Valerie Suleymanyan (taken prisoner in May).
On 14 August from 01:50 to 05:15 hours, the subdivisions of the Armenian Armed Forces fired at the National Army of Azerbaijan from their positions located 2km from south-west part of Borsunlu village of Tartar district, 2km from Tapgaragoyunlu village of Goranboy district, 2km from south-east part of Bashgervend village and 2.5km from the south-east part of Shurabad village of Agdam district, according to the Azerbaijan Defence Ministry.
The National Army of Azerbaijan retaliated and no casualties were reported.
Japan recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and supports the position of a peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said the Vice Foreign Minister of Japan, Midori Matsushima, during her official visit to Baku after her meeting with the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov, on 15 August.
In addition, the Vice Minister refuted information stating that Japanese firms currently operate in occupied Azerbaijani lands.
In addition, Ms. Matsushima is expected to meet with the Vice Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Abid Sharifov, as well as the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. During the two day visit, Ms. Matsushima will become familiarized with the realization of the projects implemented in Azerbaijan through financial support of the Japanese Government.
The member of the working group of the Karabakh Forum established through the initiative of the Azerbaijani Bloc 'Union for Democracy' held a meeting at the US Embassy in Baku, said a member of the working group and Chairman of the Azadlyg Party, Ahmed Oruj. The meeting with the US Ambassador's advisor for political affairs, Jack Bennett, focused on the Karabakh problem. The participants of the Karabakh Forum highlighted their position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement and the role of the US in resolving the conflict. In particular, the working group of the Karabakh Forum stressed that the US has not prevented the occupant position of Armenia even in words. According to the statement of the working group, the Azerbaijani society supports the opinion that peaceful talks cannot continue infinitely and Azerbaijan should restore its territorial integrity.
The US diplomat said that he understands the concerns of the participants of the Karabakh Forum. Bennett promised that he will present the situation to the attention of the US Department of State. A member of the working group informed the US diplomat of their proposals to the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, with regards to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.
The Nagorno-Karabakh Forum appealed to the Russian, French, Turkish, and Iranian embassies to obtain meetings with them.
The Russian Embassy stated that Russia does not interfere in the activity of the OSCE on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, but Russia is prepared to meet to discuss the relations between the two countries. Responses have not yet been received from the embassies of France, Turkey and Iran. The representatives of the Karabakh Forum said that Turkey should take a more active position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. The Forum is trying to obtain official explanations from the Iranian Embassy on their support of the occupant policy of Armenia.
On 15 August from 23:10 hours to 23:50 hours, the Armenian Armed Forces division fired at the National Army of Azerbaijan using machine and sub-machine guns from their positions located in 0.3km from the northern part of Goyarkh village of Azerbaijan's Tartar district, according to the Azerbaijan Defence Ministry.
National Army of Azerbaijan retaliated and no casualties were reported
The Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) states that it will prevent the forthcoming visit of the Armenian representatives to Baku in September.
Two Armenian delegations are planning to visit Baku in September. The Armenian interior minister or representative of the Ministry is expected to attend the meeting of the interior ministers of CIS countries on 5-6 September in Baku. In addition, it became known that the Armenian wrestlers intend to participate in the world championship due on 15-17 September in Baku.
KLO considers that the visit by the representatives of the occupant country to Baku is unacceptable. "Creating conditions for such a visit is a contradiction of the national interest of the Government of Azerbaijan. We call on the State officials who promise to ensure security of the Armenian delegates to appreciate the responsibility before the memory of thousands of Azerbaijani martyrs," KLO statement says.
KLO states that they will use every means possible to prevent the visit of the Armenian delegates to Baku. "The responsibility of the outcome will fall on the Government," the organization stated.
The subdivisions of Armenian Armed Forces have violated the ceasefire agreement in the Azerbaijani Terter, Goranboy, and Aghdam regions on 16 and 17 August during various times, according to Azerbaijan Defence Ministry.
The subdivisions of Armenian Armed Forces located in the eastern and southern parts of Jerabert village of Terter region, eastern and south-eastern parts of Tapgaragoyunlu village of Goranboy region, south-eastern part of Shikhlar village, north-eastern part of Saryjaly village and south-western part of Mammadbaghyrly village of Aghdam region fired at the Azerbaijani National Army using sub-machine-guns. The Azerbaijani National Army retaliated and no casualties were reported.
On 17 and 18 August from 22.30 hours to 22.50 hours, the Armenian Armed Forces division fired at the National Army of Azerbaijan using machine and sub-machine guns from their positions located in 0.2km from the south-east part of Namirli village of Azerbaijan's Agdam district, according to the Azerbaijan Defence Ministry. In addition, the Armenian Armed Forces violated the ceasefire regime between 23:30 and 00:05 hours from their positions located in 1km south-east of Tapgaragoyunlu village of Azerbaijan's district of Goranboy and 23:55 and 00:05 from their other positions.
National Army of Azerbaijan retaliated and no casualties were reported.