Alwaght- Azerbaijan announces a unilateral cessation of hostilities in Karabakh, but it would resume military action if attacked.
“Based on our love of peace and the calls of international organizations, Azerbaijan decided to unilaterally cease military response action,” ministry spokesman Vagif Dyargahly said.
Azerbaijan also said that it would return fire, if their opponents try to take back territory captured by the Azeris during the Sunday offensive.
Armenia accused Azerbaijan of launching a massive attack along the Karabakh frontline using tanks, artillery, and helicopters on Friday night. Azerbaijan, however, insisted it had counter-attacked after coming under fire from large-caliber artillery and grenade-launchers.
The Armenian Defense Ministry said the declaration of a ceasefire contradicts the facts on the ground.
The conflict has its origins in the early 20th century, although the present conflict began in 1988. The region sough to secede from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, before proclaiming independence after the USSR collapsed in 1991. As the war progressed, both post-Soviet republics entangled themselves into a protracted war.
The enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh is a historic region in the Lesser Caucasus range, in Azerbaijan. The majority of its population is Armenians. As of January 2013, the population was 146,600 people.
