From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Thu Jan 02 2003 - 10:30:36 EST
Azeri paper surprised at Defence Ministry's silence about regained
villages
Text of F. Mammadov report by Azerbaijani newspaper Azadliq on 28
December entitled "What is going on at the Qazax front?". Subhead: Some
reports suggest that the Azerbaijani army sustained casualties while
retaking two occupied villages in the district, but the Defence Ministry
denies this
The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry has not yet commented on the latest
reports that the Azerbaijani army has regained control over two occupied
villages in Qazax District - Asagi Askipara and Baganis-Ayrim
[northwestern Azerbaijan]. Private TV channels quoted their regional
correspondents as saying that as a result of the operation, our military
also regained control over a road to Armenia's Noyemberyan District.
According to these reports, the Azerbaijani army sustained no casualties
in this operation.
However, Ekho newspaper yesterday quoted a source at the Azerbaijani
Defence Ministry as saying that the Azerbaijani army lost three
servicemen in this operation, including one senior lieutenant. According
to this report, the Armenians left their positions several days earlier
and our military decided to take this chance. But the Azerbaijani
Defence Ministry has flatly denied the operation in Qazax District and
our casualties. We contacted the head of the Azerbaijani Defence
Ministry press service, Ramiz Malikov, yesterday. He said that the
report was a "complete lie": "I announce once again that there were no
operations and casualties in Qazax District". Asked whether the
Azerbaijani army was in control of the villages, Malikov answered in a
mysterious way that "our army is doing its job and there is no need to
disseminate additional information".
But an unofficial source in Qazax District has reported that at least
one man was killed in the operation. The source said that he was an
officer. Thus, there is a mystery around the events in Qazax District.
It is also unclear why the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry is not giving
accurate information to the public.
Source: Azadliq, Baku in Azeri 28 Dec 02, p 8
BBC Mon TCU 281202 ek/fa
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