Artsakh: 2019 saw the lowest ceasefire violation rate since 2010December 28, 2019 - 14:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Defense Ministry has issued a statement describing the situation on the line of contact with Azerbaijan as “relatively stable” in 2019. The Karabakh military maintained that the frequency and intensity of ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan was the lowest since 2010. “As a result of daily large-scale engineering work and the equipment of the frontline with video-surveillance devices, not only has the safety of active-duty personnel been increased, but the likelihood of attempts of subversive attacks by the Azerbaijani army has been virtually eliminated,” the Artsakh military said. According to the Defense Army, a total 9000 ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan were registered throughout 2019, with more than 85,000 shots fired in the reporting period. The Azeri troops used various-caliber firearms, as well a 60-mm mortar and a grenade launcher. "Although 2019 marked the 25th anniversary of the ceasefire agreement, the OSCE Minsk Group (a group of ambassadors from Russia, France and the United States, tasked to help the sides reach a peaceful settlement – Ed.) did not manage to make progress, because not only did Baku continue to reject basic principles of conflict settlement, but it also ignored the confidence-building measures aimed at strengthening the ceasefire," the statement reads. The Artsakh Defense Ministry, however, pledged to continue ensuring the security and peaceful existence of the people of Artsakh. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |