Ceasefire violated, shortly after positive statements

Ceasefire violations continue on the line separating the armies of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenia's armed units opened intensive submachine and machine gun fire on the Azerbaijani positions near Kuropatkino, Khojavend district, Nagorno-Karabakh, on the night of 18 May, says the press service for Azerbaijan's Defence Ministry. At 11.47 pm on 17 May Armenians from their positions 500 m northwest of Mekhdili, Jebrail district, Azerbaijan, fired at Azerbaijani positions near Jojug Marjanly located in the same district. In both cases, the Azerbaijanis fired back. Nothing is reported about casualties.

Meanwhile, Akif Nagy, chairman of the Karabakh Liberation Organisation, said, "Azerbaijan is living in expectation of treachery. Our positions have started to grow weaker in negotiations. New false models emerge. Everything said in the formula of returning the seven districts is a lie," he noted. In his opinion, Azerbaijan will lose Nagorno-Karabakh forever, even if Armenia returns several districts.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammedyarov announced on 16 May Armenia agreed to withdraw from the seven occupied districts around Nagorno-Karabakh, according to Interfax. At the same time, he emphasised Azerbaijan insisted on the full restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, including the return of Nagorno-Karabakh. Many Azerbaijani political analysts later were sceptical that Armenia would return the seven districts.

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