Azerbaijani leadership tries to hinder efforts of parties interested in stability and security in the South Caucasus - Armenian Foreign Ministry

YEREVAN, February 13. /ARKA/ In a statement issued today, the Armenian Foreign Ministry accused the Azerbaijani leadership of seeking pretexts for escalation of tension on the border.

The statement was made after Azerbaijani troops fired at an Armenian military position near Nerkin Hand village in Syunik this morning, killing four Armenian servicemen and wounding another.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry's statement says, 'Despite the statement of the competent authorities of the Republic of Armenia on February 12 stating that the footage published by the Azerbaijani media on the same day and the information that the border guards of the Republic of Armenia wounded an Azerbaijani serviceman in the Kapan area are being investigated, the Azerbaijani side carried out aggressive actions on the morning of February 13. This indicates that Azerbaijan is looking for pretexts for escalation on the border.

These actions of use of force were preceded by bellicose statements by the military and political leadership of Azerbaijan, as well as information and propaganda preparatory work in recent days. The leadership of Azerbaijan is constantly trying to disrupt the efforts of actors interested in stability and security in the South Caucasus to resume negotiations aimed at the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations.

We strongly condemn these actions of Azerbaijan resorting to military provocations, we call to refrain from steps that destabilize the situation and return to negotiations. Once again, we reaffirm the proposals previously voiced by the Armenian side to implement reliable measures aimed at increasing border security.'-0--