Armenia, Azerbaijan agree to cease fire at Armenia’s eastern border section

YEREVAN, November 17, /ARKA/. "Under the mediation of the Russian side, an agreement was reached to cease fire at Armenia's eastern border from 18:30 (1430 GMT) November 16. The situation has relatively stabilized," the Armenian defense ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

On November 16, Azerbaijan attacked Armenian positions using small arms, artillery and armored vehicles, trying to "break through" the border before being repelled.

“As a result of the retaliatory actions of the Armenian side, the enemy suffered heavy losses in manpower, several units of military equipment were destroyed or disabled. The Armenian side also has losses. At the moment, there is verified information about the death of one contract soldier, Private Meruzhan Harutyunyan, born in 1991. The number of wounded is also being specified. Another 12 servicemen were captured,’ the ministry said.

According to earlier reports, the clashes left 15 Armenian soldiers dead. In a Security Council meeting, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accused Azerbaijan of "an aggression on Armenia's sovereign territory."

"Azerbaijan and the forces that support it are targeting Armenia's statehood, sovereignty, and independence," he said, alluding to Turkey, which has backed Baku during the Karabakh war.

Earlier on Tuesday, Armenia’s Security Council asked Russia to help defend its territorial sovereignty against Azerbaijan citing a 1997 agreement signed by the two countries.-0-