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Armenia, Azerbaijan peace process in peril after clashes

AFP . Yerevan
15 Sep 2022 00:00:00 | Update: 15 Sep 2022 00:47:24
Armenia, Azerbaijan peace process in peril after clashes
A view of the settlement of Sotk, which is said to have been hit by Azeri shelling during recent border clashes with Azerbaijan – AFP Photo

Azerbaijan on Wednesday offered to return the bodies 100 Armenian troops killed in the worst clashes between the historic rivals since their war in 2020.

The offer came just a day after fighting erupted between the arch foes, and each accused the other of violating a fragile truce that one analyst described as “neither war, nor peace”.

Azerbaijan’s commission on prisoners of war called for a ceasefire and said it was “ready to unilaterally hand over the bodies of 100 Armenian servicemen to Armenia.”

Yerevan confirmed Wednesday that 105 of its troops were killed in the recent clashes, while Baku reported the death of 50 its servicemen.

Russia announced on Tuesday that it had negotiated a ceasefire but on Wednesday, Armenia’s defence ministry said “the enemy re-launched its attack by using artillery, mortar, large-calibre firearms in the directions of Jermuk, Verin Shorzha” on the border.

“Azerbaijan’s military-political leadership continues its acts of aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia, targeting both military and civilian infrastructure,” Wednesday’s statement said.

The ministry spokesman Aram Tonoyan said later on Wednesday that Azerbaijani rocket-artillery shelling intensified, including on peaceful settlement.”

The Azerbaijani defence ministry said Armenian forces “violated the ceasefire... and shelled Azerbaijani positions near Kelbajar and Lachin with mortars and artillery.”

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