Baku to pause combat operations if Yerevan doesn’t take advantage - Aliyev

BAKU, April 5. /TASS/. Azerbaijan will unilaterally pause all combat operations in the zone of the Karabakh conflict on the condition the Armenian side does not use this to its advantage, President Ilkham Aliyev said at a meeting with the families of Azerbaijani military servicemen who were killed in the zone of the conflict. "Azerbaijan is saying once again that it is unilaterally pausing all combat operations, but on the condition the other side will not use this to its advantage. May they stop fighting, too," Aliyev said. "We are on our land. We do not lay claim to others’ lands, but we will not let anyone rule the land that is ours. The Azerbaijani state and army are strong. They have already proven that," he said. Tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh soared in the small hours of April 2 along the line of engagement of the conflicting parties. Fierce clashes followed. Each side blamed the opponent of breeching truce. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said last Sunday the latest spate of hostilities left at least 33 people, including three civilians, killed and more than 200 others injured. According to the UNCHA statistics, the hostilities have affected rural communities with a total population of 14,400. At the same time the UN has no evidence regarding damages to infrastructures, the evacuation of civilians or humanitarian needs. Read more