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YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: The USA regrets the destruction of the helicopter in the territory of the Nagorno Karabakh considering it a big tragedy, and at the same time expresses hope that the sides will not take the path of destabilizing the situation and will try to settle the conflict through peaceful negotiations.
“I cannot say more than the U.S. Department of State has said. This is a horrible tragedy and I express my condolences to the three families, whose sons were killed. This is truly a terrible tragedy. The USA wants Armenia and Azerbaijan to discuss the issues and to find a way for regulating the conflict in a peaceful way. Therefore, we will continue exerting efforts so that the sides are able to find a peaceful solution to the conflict,” U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern briefed journalists at the American University of Armenia.
In answer to Armenpress’ question whether it is possible to have a peaceful negotiation with a state that downs an unarmed helicopter, John Heffern noted that what happened is a great tragedy, but we should look forward and exert efforts for reaching the purpose. “And the purpose is reaching peaceful settlement of the conflict,” he said.
Previously it was reported that in the airspace of the eastern sector of the Karabakh-Azerbaijani border, in the result of the violation of the ceasefire regime, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces shot a helicopter Mi-24 of the Air Forces of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic during a training flight on November 12 at 13:45. The place of the shot is very close to the line of contact. The press service of the Defense Army of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic informed Armenpress that the rival continues firing in the direction of the incident. The details of the incident are being investigated. Later it was announced from Stepanakert that by preliminary data there are three victims. The Commander of the staff was the Major Sergey Sahakyan.
The Spokesperson of the Artsakh President Davit Babayan told Armenpress that the helicopter was not intended for military actions. “The helicopter was not intended for military actions and did not have any weapons in it. It just implemented training exercises. The helicopter was not of danger for the rival. The Azerbaijani side hit the helicopter from the back”, - said Davit Babayan.
The Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States, and Pierre Andrieu of France) have also expressed very serious concern about the downing of a helicopter near the Line of Contact and the recent violence in their statement issued in Vienna.