Azerbaijan's political and military leadership at an impasse, Armenia says

The Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the resumption of military operations by Azerbaijan towards Tavush Province. The full text of the statement if below.

"On July 16, early in the morning, the combat groups of the Azerbaijan forces resumed military operations on the state border of the Republic of Armenia in the vicinity of Aygepar and Movses villages with the use of mortars and heavy artillery. Having received a proportionate response from the Armed Forces of Armenia, the forces of Azerbaijan were repelled with losses. With no gain in the battlefield, the Azerbaijani military units began shelling the villages of Movses and Aygepar deliberately targeting the civilian infrastructures and the population.

It should be stressed that this aggression came as a treacherous violation of an arrangement on cessation of hostilities reached earlier and following the July 15 statement by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs on the establishment of relative calm on the border.

As a result of its short-sighted policy, the political and military leadership of Azerbaijan is at an impasse and now is resorting to perilous, ill-conceived steps for which it will bear responsibility also before its own people.

The Foreign Minister is in constant contact with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship. In the present situation the efforts aimed at unconditional, complete restoration, preservation and strengthening of the ceasefire are imperative."