Azerbaijan regularly attempts to escalate situation but Armenia tries to prevent it, says lawmaker

Azerbaijan has been regularly attempting to create a new escalation but Armenia has been attempting to prevent it every time, MP Vahagn Aleksanyan has said.

He made the remarks when asked about the Azeri cross-border shootings.

“Naturally, Baku is regularly trying to take the situation towards new escalation, while we, naturally, are trying to not allow that escalation each time. We realize that the possible escalation depends both on Baku’s desires and our ability to manage that situation,” the ruling Civil Contract party MP told reporters, adding that Armenia is guided by this principle.

“And we are always ready and are doing everything to bear that responsibility and act so that no new war happens against our republic,” Aleksanyan said, adding that the attempts to escalate the situation are inadmissible.

The Azerbaijani forces have been periodically targeting Armenian border villages with small arms fire. On April 13, the building of the Culture House in the village of Khnatsakh was hit by Azeri small arms fire. On April 20, a residential building in Khoznavar was hit. No one was hurt in the shooting. EU observers said they have documented the damage to the civilian infrastructure.