OSCE needs assessment team visits Armenian Syunik region
YEREVAN, Oct. 24. /ARKA/. Members of the OSCE needs assessment team who are in Armenia from October 21 to 27 to assess the situation in certain areas of Armenia's border with Azerbaijan, visited a border settlement in Syunik region on October 23, the regional administration said.
The OSCE team members were shown the consequences of the Azerbaijani military aggression on September 13 against the sovereign territory of Armenia.
The OSCE needs assessment team was invited by the government of Armenia. The purpose of the visit is to assess the situation in certain border areas based on the OSCE’s mandate and expertise within its comprehensive concept of security.
The technical team comprised of international experts and representatives of the OSCE Secretariat will visit areas along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and hold consultations with the relevant national and local stakeholders as well as international partners on the ground.
Earlier, the EU civilian mission arrived in Armenia for two months to build confidence and, through its reports, support the Armenian and Azerbaijani border delimitation commissions. They have been deployed along the border with Azerbaijan, which agreed to cooperate with the mentioned mission to the extent it will be concerned.
On September 13, Azerbaijan launched an unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Armenia. Using heavy artillery, multiple rocket launchers and combat UAVs, the Azerbaijani armed forces shelled 36 residential areas and communities, including towns of Goris, Jermuk, Vardenis, Kapan, Geghamasar deep within the sovereign territory of Armenia.
The Azerbaijani attack deliberately targeted civilian population and vital civilian infrastructures. According to official information, 207 Armenian citizens, both military personnel and civilians were killed and went missing, 293 servicemen were wounded, 3 civilians and 20 servicemen were taken captives. -0-