YEREVAN, JULY 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenian foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan held a telephone conversation with CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas over the military operations launched by Azerbaijan on July 12 in the direction of Armenia’s Tavush province, Armenian MFA spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan said on Facebook.

“On July 13 FM Zohrab Mnatsakanyan held a phone talk with CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas. Minister Mnatsakanyan briefed the CSTO Secretary General about the ceasefire violations conducted by the Azerbaijani armed forces from July 12 in the direction of Armenia’s Tavush province with the use of artillery, the resumption of these operations in the morning of July 13, as well as the consequences of the further escalation of the situation. FM Mnatsakanyan emphasized the inadmissibility of such operations against a CSTO member state”, Naghdalyan said.

The MFA spokesperson added that a constant contact is maintained with the CSTO Secretary General and the works within the CSTO framework continue.

On July 12, at about 12:30, the armed forces of Azerbaijan attempted to violate the state border of Armenia in an UAZ vehicle in the direction of Tavush province. Following the warning of the Armenian side, the Azerbaijani armed forces left the vehicle and returned to their position. At about 13:45, the Azerbaijani forces made a second attempt to capture the Armenian border post, using artillery fire, but were pushed back, suffering losses.

No casualties were reported from the Armenian side.

The Azerbaijani defense ministry reported that three soldiers have died, four others were wounded in the incident.

Later that day Armenian defense minister’s spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan announced that the Azerbaijani side restarted shelling the same Armenian position, using 82 mm mortars and a tank.

Today Shushan Stepanyan announced that the Azerbaijani side has again resumed shelling the Armenian positions.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan