STEPANAKERT. – The Azerbaijan opposing forces this week launched an unsuccessful attempt at diversionary infiltration at the Line of Contact.

Meeting the alertness of the Armenian soldier, however, they withdrew to their starting positions, but having suffered great losses.

“The Azerbaijani MOD immediately denied the information about the [military] diversion. But following this diversion, the Azerbaijani military propaganda machine began disseminating releases about the [Azerbaijani] military servicemen who were killed or wounded at the frontline.            

“But these cases were so much for two days that the Azerbaijani MOD was forced to inform that, allegedly, the Azerbaijani armed forces had succeeded in stopping the infiltration attempt by the Armenians. Azerbaijan was attempting to justify the losses of its own armed forces.     

“As for the diversion, it should be noted that this kind of demeanor by Azerbaijan is nothing new; this is the manifestation of its destructive position ahead of important diplomatic events [i.e., Friday’s meeting in Paris between the Armenia and the Azerbaijan FMs].  

“With such provocative actions, Azerbaijan is trying to show that it does not agree with the regional military and political situation following the ceasefire agreement in 1994.   

“Second, it informs about its disagreement with the ongoing process within the framework of the Karabakh conflict settlement.    

“From January 19 to 25, the tension at the Line of Contact between the Karabakh-Azerbaijani opposing forces reached its peak.

“The adversary breached the ceasefire agreement around 1,500 times throughout the week. During this time, more than 14,000 shots were fired in the direction of Armenian positions, and by way different-caliber artillery weapons.

“The [Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR)] Defense Army vanguard units primarily adhered to the ceasefire agreement and took steps of response solely when absolutely necessary,” specifically reads the NKR MOD press service statement.