ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI TROOPS EXCHANGE FIRE

Russia Today
March 4 2008
Russia

Armenian and Azerbaijani troops have exchanged fire in the contested
region north-west of Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenian Foreign Minister,
Vardan Oskanyan, has accused Azerbaijan of taking advantage of the
current political turmoil in Armenia.

Oskanyan has demanded an immediate restoration of the peace.

Azerbaijan denies accusations that it’s the aggressor.

A war between the countries broke out in the early 90s, claiming more
than 35,000 lives.

In a referendum in 1991 Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence but
it was not recognised by any country. Though de facto independent,
it remains part of Azerbaijan.

In May 1994 an unofficial ceasefire, mediated by Russia, was agreed
between the two countries.

According to the Armenian Defence Ministry Azeri forces are using
heavy artillery to shell the Armenian positions in the disputed
territory. One Armenian has been killed and several others are
injured. According to the Azerbaijan side two people are dead.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry accuses Azeri forces of violating the
ceasefire agreement, but shots are fired almost every other day and
casualties are not uncommon. However this incident has on a different
scale as heavy artillery has been used, as well as encroachment into
Armenian territory being registered.

The Azeris insist that the shooting is continueing. They also
accuse the Armenians of deflecting attention from recent riots in
the Armenian capital when eight people died during one night. They
accuse the Armenians of looking for an external enemy.