Azerbaijan vs Armenia [Nagorno-Karabakh conflict]

Notice how they put Azerbaijan's statement in quotation, unlike Armenian claim which is BS because of the facts that we know about the crew. And we also know that there is no such thing as Mi-24s belonging to Karabakh. The whole Armenian Mi-24 fleet is around dozen helicopters or so, by the way. And I might add that the statement is from an unrecognized entity, Russia recognizes Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan and does not recognize any other entity there.

Azeris now have new national hero. Russia truly knows who they are selling weapons to. Chernazhopi now have quality and numbers over NK and Armenian troops. Soon we might see 888 scenario, but I doubt Russia will interfere.

Skirmish Reported on Armenian-Azerbaijani Border, Two Killed

Why are they publishing a claim denied by Azerbaijani MoD? Had Azerbaijan suffered any casualty, it would have been reported by MoD. All incident/casualties gets reported by MoD.

Meanwhile, Armenian side has reported four KIA this month.

http://asbarez.com/130407/two-karabakh-soldiers-killed/

Several military reported dead in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict escalation
March 19, 2015 20:14

RIA Novosti / Iliya Pitalev

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia escalated on Thursday leaving several military dead. Different figures were produced by each side, ranging from at least three, up to 20 people in the disputed enclave in the South Caucasus.

The defense ministry of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, which is an unrecognized state populated mostly by ethnic Armenians and completely surrounded by Azeri territories, reported that three of its servicemen were killed and several others injured in an attack from the Azerbaijan side on Thursday.

“On Thursday morning a reinforced group of [Azerbaijan's] special operation forces attacked the Karabakh positions,” the ministry said in its statement, adding that the Armenian soldiers serving in that region repelled the attack and “totally defeated” the military group.

Three Armenian servicemen died in the fight, and four more were injured, the ministry's press-service said.

The Azerbaijani side called these reports intentional “disinformation,” and said that its troops killed and wounded up to 20 Armenian military.

“As a result of military clashes on March 19 on the front line, Azerbaijan's armed forces conducted a heavy attack up-front on the Armenian side, and eliminated and wounded up to 20 Armenian servicemen,” the Azerbaijani defense ministry said in its statement.

The ministry also said that reports of a sabotage attack from the Azerbaijani side were not true.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry blamed its opponent for a “provocation,” which “poses a serious threat to security and stability in the region,” the ministry's spokesman Tigran Balayan told journalists on Thursday, as quoted by Interfax.

Both sides have repeatedly accused each other of trying to reignite a conflict that broke out in 1988 when the Nagorno-Karabakh region announced its plans to seek independence from Azerbaijan and become part of Armenia.

"Azerbaijan–Armenia: heat is getting stronger"

The latest exacerbation of the situation on the demarcation line between the armed forces of Azerbaijan and Armenia is undoubtedly Baku’s desire to distract attention from 24 April – the tragic historical date marking the centenary of the Armenian genocide. Turkey is holding a series of national events marking the First World War with the same aim. The main reason for what is happening, however, is different.

For several years after the defeat in the 1992-1994 war in Nagorny Karabakh the situation in the conflict zone remained frozen. This period of relative stability ended at the beginning of the 2000s, and for many years now Baku has been harassing the Armenian side in an attempt to force Yerevan to capitulate. It’s not a question of compromise – Baku’s goal is the actual capitulation of Yerevan and the complete return of the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan under Baku’s control, in other words the return of all the territories which they consider to be occupied by Armenia. The military component of this policy has been constantly increasing lately, which occasionally results in intensive armed clashes.

Furthermore, it is the socio-economic situation in Azerbaijan, which is completely out of alignment with the revenues the country receives from its energy riches. A significant part of the population is migrant workforce going to Russia, many people living in rural areas have no significant income and survive on farming. There is a very high degree of social polarisation in the society. In this context it is very convenient for the authorities to have an external enemy that is responsible for all the troubles and misfortunes of every Azerbaijani in the country. The authorities have an opportunity to let off the steam of discontent in society and prevent the situation from blowing up. This kind of ploy, however, cannot go on forever. It represents an obvious danger for the ruling elite in the form of a local version of the Arab spring or coloured revolution. In comparison it is helpful to recall Cyprus, where there is a “third state of the Turkish nation” – the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognised only by Turkey. It is obvious that if the Republic of Cyprus, which was divided in 1974, pursued a policy based exclusively on the idea of a military revenge, the country could lose its historical perspective, and the situation on the island would be far more dramatic than it is now.

At the moment it’s not a matter of Azerbaijan wanting to wage a large-scale war. The constant build-up of tension is one of the measures aimed at increasing the pressure on Armenia. The pressure itself is exerted in various forms: propaganda, diplomacy, military assets, the creation of lobbying groups in various states, etc. It’s a whole range of measures that are being implemented with enviable persistence for many years and are aimed at forcing Armenia to withdraw. Outbreaks of tension in the area of the Nagorny Karabakh occur periodically. Baku’s policy is aimed at wearing the Armenian side down physically and morally, breaking the enemy’s morale. So far, however, this policy does not include settling the conflict by force.

Baku can only give the order to start a new war if victory for the Azerbaijani army is guaranteed. This will only be possible if the Azerbaijani army has overwhelming superiority over the Armenian army, and if Azerbaijan gets international and military support from Turkey. Baku cannot leave aside Russia who is a regional player. For Baku starting a new war would be too big a gamble.

A further escalation of the conflict to wide-ranging military action is currently unlikely. A large role in this deals with Kremlin’s reaction to events alongside members of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, which have more than once stated their unwavering stance on the unacceptability of a military solution to the problem. This does not mean that there is no risk of a new war. The rise in tension is dangerous because the authorities in Azerbaijan and Armenia could lose control of the situation at any moment. Another risk for the region is the zone of political instability that has emerged in the Middle East, and the growing activity of radical forces (IS, etc). This zone is constantly expanding in all directions, and the risk of it spreading to the neighbouring South Caucasus and Central Asia is growing every year.

http://russiancouncil.ru/en/inner/?id_4=5739#top

Russia ready to help searching for solution to Nagorno-Karabakh issue — Lavrov

"There is a realistic basis for concluding agreements. Everybody agrees with that. Now it is important to translate this understanding into the language of specific formulas," Lavrov said

MOSCOW, May 25. /TASS/. The understandings regarding the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue must be translated into the language of specific formulas, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mamedyarov on Monday.

"Nobody denies the fact that the conflict has lasted for too long," he said, speaking about Nagorno-Karabakh, which is the subject of an unresolved dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"There is a realistic basis for concluding agreements. Everybody agrees with that. Now it is important to translate this understanding into the language of specific formulas," he said adding that this is usually "not the easiest matter."

In comments to talks in Moscow with his Azerbaijan’s counterpart, Lavrov said the sides discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh issue on Sunday and in particular the effort made over the past years, including as part of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs - Russia, the United States and France.

Lavrov has expressed cautious but also strengthening optimism about the situation.

Nagorno-Karabakh is a majority Armenian region within Azerbaijan that is de facto independent. The struggle over Nagorno-Karabakh escalated after both Armenia and Azerbaijan obtained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the end of 1993, the conflict had caused thousands of casualties and created hundreds of thousands of refugees on both sides. An unofficial ceasefire was reached on May 12, 1994. Since then, Armenia and Azerbaijan have been holding negotiations mediated by the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) Minsk Group on the region's disputed status.

Wasn't in on Moscow victory parade Armenia and Azerbaijan marching one after another? Its a detail but I was surprised considering their relationships. Did the situation there calm down?

Yes, both armies marched one after the other in the May Parade.
Also, Armenian sportsman went to Baku for the European games (under guarantees and protection of course).

Things are generally calm but there are frequent outburst on the front (mostly small arms fire) and soldiers (and sometimes civilians from border villages) get killed or wounded.

It is still a no peace and no war situation.

One Azerbaijani serviceman killed, three wounded in Nagorno-Karabakh

The country’s Defense Ministry blamed escalation of tensions on the Armenian side

BAKU, September 26. /TASS/. One serviceman of the Azerbaijani army was killed and three were wounded Friday in a clash in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in a statement Saturday.

The statement said the country’s Defense Ministry blamed escalation of tensions on the Armenian side.

Nagorno-Karabakh sought independence from Azerbaijan at the end of the 1980s, which resulted in a war between Azerbaijan and Armenia that claimed the lives of 25,000-30,000 people between 1988 and 1994. Since then, the territory has been controlled by Armenia.

The OSCE Minsk Group acts as a mediator. It is a mechanism designed to promote a peace solution to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.

The group is led by co-chairs France, Russia and the United States. It also comprises Belarus, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Finland, and Turkey, as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Armenia to continue talks on Nagorno-Karabakh - minister

"Armenia has supported and is supporting the continuation of a negotiating process and settlement of the crisis through negotiations," said Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian

YEREVAN, December 19. /TASS/. Armenia will continue negotiations to reach peace in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said in a televised interview, commenting on talks between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan held on Saturday in Bern, Switzerland.

"Armenia has supported and is supporting the continuation of a negotiating process and settlement of the crisis through negotiations," Nalbandian said. "The Armenian president’s participation in the talks in Bern speaks well for this approach of Armenia."

"There is no alternative to the talks," he said. Armenia "has reiterated its readiness to continue talks and to move ahead to settlement, basing on the proposals (of the co-chairs of the Minsk Group of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe - Russia, France and the United States - eds. TASS)."

"Armenia confirms its determination to go ahead alongside the co-chairs in resolving the crisis by exclusively peaceful efforts," he said adding that in Bern the sides "voiced their approaches to different principles of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis."

Russia does nothing that could harm sides in the Karabakh conflict — Foreign Ministry

At the same time, he noted that unfortunately the stances were far from being close or similar.

"Any meeting, especially at the presidential level, is very important so that the talks could go on as there is no other alternative," the foreign minister said.

"The more often such meetings are held, the more opportunities to discuss things tick-by-tick appear, including both promotion of the process of peace settlement and working out the mechanisms aimed at easing the tensions," Nalbandian said.

Over the past seven years, Armenia and Azerbaijan had held over 20 summits, he said noting that "the agreement was within reach at some of them but Azerbaijan has always taken a step back."

History of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

The highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh (Mountainous Karabakh) is a mostly Armenian-populated enclave inside the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan. It was the first zone of inter-ethnic tensions and violence to appear on the map of the former USSR.

Even almost a quarter of a century after the breakup of the Soviet Union, Karabakh remains a so-called 'frozen conflict' on the post-Soviet space, as the region is the subject of a dispute between Azerbaijan and the local Armenian population that draws on strong support from fellow-countrymen in neighbouring Armenia.

In 1988, hostilities broke out there between the forces reporting to the government in Baku and Armenian residents, which resulted in the region's de facto independence.

In 1994 a ceasefire was reached but the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia remain strained ever since then.

Russia, France and the U.S. co-chair the Minsk Group of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which attempts to broker an end to hostilities and the conflict.

Azerbaijan shoots down an Armenian drone... video from the drone at the link.

Looks like a small quadrcopter design, probably got hit by small arms.

http://en.apa.az/news/237027

Post-Soviet military bloc set to react to use of force in Nagorno-Karabakh

The OSCE is monitoring the conflict as it involves one of its member-states, Armenia

MOSCOW, February 12. /TASS/. The post-Soviet security organization, CSTO, will react to any actions causing escalation of tension at the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as in Nagorno-Karabakh, the organization's head Nikolai Borduzha said on Friday.

"The Organization has been reacting to any actions of the kind [use of military force] that affect security in the region," he said.

At the same time, he continued, the organization is not involved in settlement of that conflict.

"We only monitor the situation, as it involves our ally - Armenia," the official said. "CSTO’s position is quite strait - all participating countries want to have the conflict settled by only political means."

"All countries are against escalation of the tension at the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, against use of heavy weapons," he added.

On January 26, PACE turned down a report on settling the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh that had been drafted by its rapporteur, British MP Robert Walter. The document contained a call to both sides to refrain from violence.

Walter also suggested that Yerevan should withdraw regular Armenian armed units from Karabakh and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan and establish full control over the territories by the Azerbaijani government.

Most speakers who took the floor during the report said, however, it was the Minsk Group of the OSCE that was entrusted with settling the conflict in Karabakh and PACE rejected the report.

The Minsk Group earlier called on PACE to refrain from actions that might hinder the process of negotiations.

It expressed the understanding that PACE might discuss a resolution on the conflict shortly, and in the light of it they recalled that the Minsk Group remained the only officially accepted format for negotiations.

Along with praising the interest of PACE members, the Group co-chairpersons called on them to refrain from the steps that might deal a blow to their efforts or impede the process of continuing negotiations.


More:
http://tass.ru/en/world/856211

it seems there is an ongoing conflict there right now

http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160402/1037362816/armenia-azerbaijan-karabakh-violent.html

Azarbaijan air force helicopter reportedly shot down

http://lifenews.ru/news/194335

Armenian defence ministry saying it as counter offensive against attacks on them, and now they go on the offensive. Seems very similar to Donbass in military terms http://www.interfax.ru/world/501606

And Kerry had talks with Aliyev only last Wednesday, and now this.....
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-azerbaijan-conflict-idUSKCN0WW2QB?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

Project Canada wrote:Azarbaijan air force helicopter reportedly shot down

http://lifenews.ru/news/194335

Do you know what was the type of the helicopter that was shot down?

Mi-8 but this is disputed, partly because the photo used in the reports is of a crashed Mi-8 on Mount Elbrus in 2010. Maybe, as is so often the case, the photo is used for illustration purposes due to lack of info from the scene, but otherwise the report may be true.

There are claims for 2 helicopters and 1 UAV.
Here is the photo of the Azerbaijani UAV that was brought down:



More photos:
http://nkrmil.am/main/am/newsMore1241.html

Armenian SP guns on the way to the front:

Armenian defence ministry report that Azerbaijani Mi-24/35 was shot down over eastern side of mount Mrav http://armenpress.am/eng/news/841794/azerbaijani-mi-24/35-was-downed-in-eastern-part-of-mrav-mountain.html


Also this video showing Armenian civilian areas under attack. Precise location is not given

Azerbaijan-Armenia situation reminds me Greece-Turkey with the only difference that Azerbaijan isn't member of CSTO like Armenia