PA NATO CONDEMNS CEASEFIRE BREACH BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA

Trend News Agency
March 5 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 5 March / corr TrendNews K.Ramazanova / The
Parliamentary Assembly of NATO condemns the violation of the ceasefire
regime on the frontline of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"This is a negative situation and we regret it," Jose Lello, the
President of PA NATO, stated in Baku on 5 March.

Starting in the early hours of 4 March, shooting began on the frontline
of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and Armenia in the occupied territory
of Azerbaijan in several directions.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said that during the gun fire with
Armenia, 12 Armenian soldiers were killed and 15 more were injured,
whereas four Azerbaijani soldiers were killed and injured.

NATO supports a peaceable resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. "I hope the international community will assist in the
establishment of stability in the region," he said.

During his visit Lello will participate in the 68th Rose-Roth
workshop. He is expected to meet with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani
Parliament Ogtay Asadov, the First Vice Speaker, the head of
the Azerbaijani delegation to NATO PA Ziyafat Askarov, members
of Parliament’s standing committee for security and defence, and
political parties represented in Parliament.

They will discuss enhancement of cooperation between Azerbaijan
and NATO PA, preparations for a workshop to discuss security in the
Caspian region and Central Asia, the military-political situation,
energy security, and relationships between the West and Central Asia.

Representatives from international organizations and from over 25
countries cooperating with NATO will be in attendance.