Thursday, July 6 2017 12:22

ArmInfo.Peaceful population on both sides of the border has long become a hostage to the policy of Azerbaijani authorities on constant escalation of tension at the  contact line between armed forces of Artsakh and Azerbaijan and  sabotaging the efforts of intermediaries to restore the negotiation  process. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nagorno-Karabakh message  reads, spread after the Azerbaijani provocation. 

 "In the evening of July 4 this year, Azerbaijani side undertook  another provocation, firing at the territory of Artsakh. For the  first time since April aggression in 2016, the armed forces of  Azerbaijan used the multiple launch system TR-107. The fire came from  the positions located in the village of Alkhanlu, in close proximity  to residential buildings. Artsakh defense army was forced to take  counter-measures to suppress fire activity of Azerbaijani army. As a  result of the incident provoked by the Azerbaijani side,  unfortunately, there are victims among the villagers. We repeatedly,  even in the days of the April aggression, drew attention to the fact  that Azerbaijani side, in violation of all norms of international  humanitarian law, does not disdain to use its civilian population as  a human shield for shelling the territory of Artsakh, "the statement  of Karabakh foreign ministry said.

At the same time, the department stresses that the incident once  again confirms the importance of the agreements reached on May 16,  2016 summits in Vienna and on June 20, 2016 in St. Petersburg aimed  at stabilizing the situation at the contact line. NKR MFA is  convinced that the urgent implementation of these agreements,  torpedoed by Azerbaijan, will prevent the recurrence of such  incidents in the future.