Baku, Stepanakert continue to trade accusations of Karabakh truce breach
BAKU/YEREVAN. Feb 17 (Interfax) - The defense ministries of Azerbaijan and the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) reported dozens of truce breaches in the Karabakh conflict zone by use of heavy weapons and small arms on Friday.
Armenia breached the truce 40 times in the past 24 hours, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said.
"Armenian units used 60mm mortars and heavy machineguns to breach the truce 40 times in various sectors of the frontline during the day," the ministry said in a report.
According to it, the gunfire was coming both from the territory of Armenia and the unrecognized NKR.
"Azerbaijani servicemen responded in accordance with the circumstances," the ministry said.
For its part, Stepanakert reported "over 800 Azerbaijani attacks on Armenian positions employing D-44 guns and small arms of various calibers on February 16 and in the small hours of February 17."
"Azerbaijani forces used D-44 guns, 60mm and 82mm mortars, and AGS-9 and RPG-7 grenade launchers in the eastern and northeastern sectors," the unrecognized republic's ministry said.
"Twenty-one shots were fired from those weapons," it said.
The NKR Defense Army "returned fire when necessary," the ministry said.
"All is quiet at the moment," it said.
