Armenian contract soldier killed in Azeri shellingSeptember 3, 2015 - 17:13 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An Armenian contract soldier Hayk Devoyan (born in 1975) was deadly wounded in the Azeri armed forces attack in the province of Tavush, spokesperson for the Armenian Defense Ministry said. According to Artsrun Hovhannisyan, military operations are currently underway with no signs of large-scale activities. “Azeri armed forces fired from various caliber weapons, including 60- and 80-mm grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns and snipers,” Hovhannisyan said. The spokesperson also refuted the news on possible evacuation. “A training base with several thousand beds was deployed in Tavush; however, scenarios of possible evacuation were only tested as a part of Shant 2015 military training,” Hovhannisyan explained. The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now. Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Partner news | Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. EU still discussing funding Armenia through European Peace Facility Discussions continue in the EU on providing Armenia with funds from the European Peace Facility, Vassilis Maragos says. Greek-Armenian organizations support "Tavush for Motherland" Greek-Armenian organizations have expressed support for the campaign led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan. |