Azernews.Az

By Rashid Shirinov

Armenian shelling of Azerbaijani lands in early April considerably damaged the Azerbaijani cultural buildings such as mosques and historical monuments.

"The amount of damage is being studied," Mubariz Gurbanli, Chairman of the state Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, said May 18.

He added that the committee addressed the relevant authorities in this regard. “At the end of the process, restoration of historical monuments, including mosques, along with restoration of the settlements, will begin,” Gurbanli noted.

On the night of April 2, 2016, all the frontier positions of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire of large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers by Armenian army. Azerbaijani counter-attack led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements.

The armed clashes resulted in deaths and injuries among the population and damage of their estate. As many as 450 houses of IDPs (Internally displaced persons) were damaged as a result of Armenian shelling. In particular, 50 houses in Tartar district were completely destroyed. Moreover, 17 victims of Armenian attacks were internally displaced persons.

Military operations on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies were stopped on April 5 at 12:00 with mutual consent of the sides. However, Armenian side still continues violating the ceasefire.

Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since the 1990s war, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal, but they have not been enforced to this day.

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