On May 18, 1992, the Armenian occupiers destroyed hundreds of cultural facilities, tens of settlements, villages and historical monuments. Some 63,341 Azerbaijani citizens were driven out their home lands as a result of the occupation. Lachin region includes 121 villages with a total space of 1,835 cu. m. More than 300 military men and civilians were killed or missing during the occupation of the Lachin region. There are 8,950 buildings, 7 industrial and construction enterprises, 471 service facilities, 154 schools and hundreds of cultural and historical monuments left in the occupied lands.

On May 8, 1992, after the occupation of Shusha city of Azerbaijan, Armenian armed forces, having occupied settlements around Lachin, fired intensive shells to the center of the region. On a night from May 16 to 17, 1992, starting their occupation from the place named Turshsu (Shusha city) and Gor region of Armenia, Armenians armed forces occupied Lachin region. Majority of the enemy forces could get into the region through Lachin corridor.

At that time, the key part of the Azerbaijani armed forces withdrawn from Lachin and surrounding regions, were fighting the political confrontation in the capital city of the country. The Army taking part in the military demonstrations in Baku did not have a control over the positions in the front-line which resulted in the occupation of Lachin region of Azerbaijan following other regions. The occupation of Lachin, region of great geo-strategic significance, dealt a serious blow to the economy of Azerbaijan.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.

TREND

May 8, 2012 marks the 20th anniversary of the occupation of Shusha, a predominantly Azerbaijani city within the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. On this very day in 1992, the armed forces of Armenia seized Shusha, killing and disabling hundreds of innocent Azerbaijani civilians, expelling the entire population of the city, and destroying, burning and looting numerous cultural, religious and historical monuments.

Considered the cradle of Azerbaijani music, culture and literature, Shusha was established by Panah-Ali Khan Javanshir in the mid-18th century as the capital of the Karabakh khanate of Azerbaijan. Prominent Azerbaijani cultural figures originating from Shusha include, among others, Uzeyir Hajibayov (composer of the first Muslim opera and musical comedy); Bul-Bul (founder of Azerbaijani opera vocal); Jabbar Garyaghdy (Azerbaijani Mugham Art virtuoso); singer Rashid Behbudov; composers Ashraf Abbasov, Suleyman Aleskerov, Fikret Amirov, Farhad Badalbeyli, Seyid and Khan Shushinski, writers Abdurrehim bey Haqverdiyev and Najaf bey Vezirov; and poetess Khurshudbanu Natavan.

Shusha’s seizure was an essential stage in the implementation of Armenia’s policy of military occupation and ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijan. As a result, around 20% of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territory, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts, were occupied, and almost 750,000 Azerbaijanis were expelled. Coupled with over 250,000 Azerbaijani refugees expelled from Armenia, the number of Azerbaijanis forcefully displaced from their ancestral lands reached over 1 million. The occupation and expulsion were condemned by the international community, including by the United Nations Security Council, which demanded the “immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of all Armenian forces from all the occupied territories” of Azerbaijan. However, backed militarily and economically by certain external forces, Armenia ignored these demands, and concentrated its efforts on consolidating the consequences of the occupation.

The continued illegal occupation of Shusha and other territories of Azerbaijan, as well as the plight of Azerbaijani civilians expelled from them serve as yet another reminder for the international community to effectively push for justice, which can only be restored once the occupation is ended and the displaced people are allowed to return to their homes.

For the sake of Armenia’s own future, it is high time for the country’s leadership to demonstrate statesmanship, and seriously and constructively engage itself in peace talks with Azerbaijan”.

APA

“The European Parliament adopted a resolution on EU negotiations on an association agreement with Azerbaijan and Armenia. The most important thing in this resolution is a completely different attitude to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In particular, it recommended Armenia to withdraw its troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, not to send the youth on the military service in the Nagorno-Karabakh, not to carry out on the occupied territories the settlement policy, not to hinder the entry and exit in the Nagorno-Karabakh,” Ahmedoglu said.

But at the same time, he said, attention is drawn to the absence in the EP’s resolution of mention of the need for dialogue between the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“The dialogue between the communities could become a tool with which it will be possible to carry out the most important job – from creating an atmosphere of trust to determining the status of Nagorno-Karabakh,” the analyst said.

In his view, those who know why the point about inter-community dialogue is not included in the resolution of the European Parliament, also know the reason for the unresolved Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

“By eliminating this reason, it is possible to achieve a peaceful settlement to the conflict. Otherwise, the European Parliament and other European institutions will become participants of delaying the settlement process,” Ahmedoglu said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France and the U.S. – are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

TREND.az

Lithuanian embassy in Azerbaijan told APA that members of the Seimas Emanuelis Zingeris, Egidijus Varejkis, Arūnas Valinskas and the others also signed the appeal.

Members said that they share sorrows of the Azerbaijani people and also expressed their regret that the perpetrators of Khojaly tragedy haven’t been punished yet, while the actions of the persons, who committed war crimes in Yugoslavia, were assessed politically and legally.

Members of the Lithuanian Seimas drew the European parliamentarians’ attention to Nagorno Karabakh conflict and underlined that they regard the resolution #2216, which was adopted by the European Parliament on May, 2010, as a significant document, supported the moral and political assessment given to the actions of the Armenian aggressors and called to fulfill immediately the principled clauses of the document.

Members of the Seimas expressed their confidence that the European Parliament will give a political assessment to this genocide and recognize this bloody tragedy as a part of the European historical memory.

Lithuanian parliamentarians expressed their hope that the requirements of the European Parliament’s resolution #2216 will be seriously fulfilled and the historical justice will be restored.

APA

“The most important problem of the Azerbaijani people and the state remains the aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, which marked the beginning of the Karabakh conflict. This conflict is still unresolved. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict is the greatest threat to peace and stability in the region”, – Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in an interview that was published in the prestigious South Korean magazine “Diplomacy”, APA reports.

President Ilham Aliyev said that over 20 years of occupation and ethnic cleansing carried out by Armenians more than one million Azerbaijanis have become refugees in the occupied territories, destroyed infrastructure, destroyed the monuments of history and culture. UN Security Council adopted 4 resolutions in connection with the conflict. They contain the demand unconditional withdrawal from the occupied lands of the occupation forces. In spite of the fact. These resolutions were adopted at the highest international level, they are still not satisfied”, he said.

The President noted that the OSCE, Council of Europe, the European Parliament, the OIC and other international organizations have adopted documents, which expressed support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. But Armenia ignores the opinions of these organizations. For many years engaged in the settlement of the conflict the OSCE Minsk Group. With the mediation of the country sopredsedateley U.S., Russia and France were organized meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia. But because of the destructive position of Armenia, the conflict remains unresolved.

Ilham Aliyev stressed that the Karabakh conflict can be resolved by peaceful means, based on international law and within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
During the interview, the Head of State also touched on issues relating to the Seoul Summit on Nuclear Security prospects for the development of Azerbaijan-Korean relations reached Azerbaijan successes in the economic sphere, etc.

APA

“The annex to the decision gives information about the history of the aggressive policy against Azerbaijan, describes Azerbaijan’s position, says that Azerbaijan’s Nagorno Karabakh region and seven adjacent regions have undergone aggression by Armenia and are still under the occupation of the Armenian Armed Forces. The decision says that more than one million Azerbaijanis have become refugees and internally displaced people, condemns violence committed against the Azerbaijanis, violation of their rights. The crimes committed in Khojaly are called genocide in the decision. It means that Colombia is the second country in the Latin America after Mexico to assess the Khojaly happenings as genocide. Prior to it, the decision was discussed at the second committee on foreign affairs and defense issues of Colombia. The decision, which was passed unanimously, is another successful step of the Azerbaijani diplomacy towards legal political assessment of the Khojaly genocide by the world community. We will continue carrying out activities in this sphere. This is very important for us,” he said.

APA

Information about the orders of Azerbaijan and their delivery has not been provided, APA reported.

Azerbaijan adopted anti-tank missiles Spike in 2010.

Spike-SR is a short range version Spike, minimum range is 200 m while the maximum range is 800 m and is intended for infantry use. The reusable Command & launch unit (CLU), battery, tripod and the thermal sight are also used by other land-based versions of the Spike missile family, each weighing 5 kg, 1 kg, 2.8 kg and 4 kg respectively.

Spike-LR is a long range version. The weight of the missile is 14 kg, maximum range is 4,000 m and is used by infantry and light combat vehicles. It adds fiber-optic communication to and from the launching soldier during flight. Reported armour penetration capability is more than 700 mm of Rolled homogeneous armour (RHA).

The Cardom is a Soltam Systems 120mm Recoil Mortar System (RMS). It is an autonomous, computerized system for mounting on light and medium armored carriers. The system provides accurate and effective fire support. Its range is 7,000-8,000 meters.

The military parade in Baku last year showcased Spike missiles and Cardom mortars.

He underlined that Ukraine’s position remains unchanged. “We respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. This complicated and bloody conflict must be settled by peaceful means and chances”.

Lytvyn said Ukraine was preparing to take over the OSCE presidency: “We intend to do all possible and impossible and make maximum efforts to move the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict from formal point. Today the Minsk Group countries, including US, Russia and France focus attention on this issue. But you understand well that the main issues for them are the issues concerning the political campaigns in these countries”.

APA

The West stands for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It supports Azerbaijan, whose territory was occupied and 1 million refugees were expelled 20 years ago, Russia-Eurasia Center Director and Trend Expert Council Member Alexandr Rahr said.

“The European Parliament in the new resolution once again indicated its principles of supporting Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and non-recognition of Armenia’s right to continue the occupation of Azerbaijani territories,” he told Trend over phone from Berlin.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on EU negotiations on an association agreement with Azerbaijan and Armenia which reflects the respect for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. The resolution was adopted at a session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

It is noted that an associative agreement with Azerbaijan and Armenia will not be signed within the EU Eastern Partnership until the Azerbaijani occupied territories are liberated and pass to Azerbaijan’s control and refugees return to their native land.

The document also states that the occupation of the territory of one state by another is a violation of international principles and is contrary to the fundamental principles of the EU Neighbourhood Policy and harms Eastern Partnership programme. It also indicated the need to investigate the facts on illegal settlements in Azerbaijan’s occupied territories.

The European Parliament’s resolution confirms the EU and NATO principles that the integration with a country occurs when the country will resolve its territorial problems. The country, having an unresolved territorial conflict, is not an object for integration with the EU, he said.

“On the other hand, Europe sometimes thinks of double standards, as in case of other conflicts,” he said. “Therefore, the resolution would be more beneficial for Azerbaijan if the EU did not have their “skeletons in the closet” and if it called for the immediate withdrawal of Armenian troops from occupied territories.”

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

The Eastern Partnership Program is a Polish-Swedish initiative under the EU Neighbourhood Policy aimed at improving EU relations with six former Soviet countries Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Belarus, Ukraine and Armenia. The programme envisages the allocation of 600 million euro to these countries until 2013 to strengthen state institutions, control borders and help small companies.

Trend.az

“Of course, the moral success has been achieved by the Azerbaijani side especially regarding the issue of illegal settlement,” he told Trend.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on EU negotiations on an association agreement with Azerbaijan and Armenia which reflects the respect for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, spokesman for Foreign Ministry Elman Abdullayev told journalists on Wednesday.

The resolution was adopted at a session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
It is noted that an associative agreement with Azerbaijan and Armenia will not be signed within the EU Eastern Partnership until the Azerbaijani occupied territories are liberated and pass to Azerbaijan’s control and refugees return to their native land.

The document also states that the occupation of the territory of one state by another is a violation of international principles and is contrary to the fundamental principles of the EU Neighbourhood Policy and harms Eastern Partnership programme.

The document indicated the need to investigate the facts on illegal settlements in Azerbaijan’s occupied territories.

On the other hand, the format of the Eastern Partnership is too loose and amorphous for these decisions to push the parties towards compromise and Yerevan, to implement the European Parliament’s resolutions, Vlasov said.

It was noticeable at the last summit of the Eastern Partnership that when the matter rests in the South Caucasian problems, European bureaucrats’ statements are extremely vague and unspecific, Vlasov said.

“Are these statements able to “scare” Yerevan? I think they are not,” the expert said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Trend.az