Organization: Old Dominion University Computer Services
Date: Wednesday, 15 Apr 1992 00:32:35 EDT
From: FARID <FHM100F@ODUVM.BITNET>
Newsgroups: talk.politics.mideast
Subject:    News from Azerbaijan-Turan News Agency in Baku

The following news was reported by the Turan News Agency in Baku-Azerbaijan.

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                RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN AZERBAIJAN

Baku, 04/10/92, Turan: On returning from Karabakh Russian Foreign Minister,
Andrei Kosirev, met with Azerbaijani parliament chairman, Yagub Mamedov.
According to Mamedov's staff, Kosirev put forward a number of "revised
suggestions" on resolution of the karabakh conflict. As the officials
accompanying Kosirev inform, the helicopter carrying Russian minister was fired
at from the positions of Armenian village of Dashalti. Escort military
helicopters suppressed Armenian missiles attacks. According to Russian
representatives, the shelling was premeditative, because Armenians were
informed of the helicopter flight well in advance.

During these talks with Andrei Kosirev, Yagub Mamedov told the Russian Minister
that Armenians are preparing for mass killing of Azeri hostages. Azerbaijan has
been warned by Karabakh local Armenians that the leaders of armed units from
Armenia are planning to mark the so-called "genocide day" which is April, 24 by
mass killing the captured Azeris. According to official reports, the number of
Azeris captured by Armenians amounts up to 3,000 mainly women and children.
Only on April 9, 400 civilians were seized as hostages when the Azeri village
of Agdaban was captured by Armenians.

Azerbaijan parliament chairman, Yagub Mamedov, during his talks with Russian
Foreign Minister, Andrei Kosirev, called on the Russian leadership to assist in
averting this barbaric act.

A similar mass killing took place in February in Kodjali, when Armenians in a
bloody massacre of azeri civil population killed all captured Azerbaijni
civilians and national self-defence forces.


        ARMENIANS CONTINUE SHELLING AZERI BORDER VILLAGES

Baku, 04/10/92, Turan: Azerbaijani Defence Ministry Press Center released
reports that in the last 24 hours the Azeri villages of Kazanchi, Agkend, and
Seidlyar have been under constant Armenian artillery and machine gun attack
from Armenian positions based in kafan region of Armenia. No information on
casualties have been reported. The news release also reported that night time
attacks on the Azeri villages of Jukhari, Ashagi Djubikli, Ain, and Karaoglu in
Gubadli region continued by infantry combat vehicles, armored personnel
carriers, and 122 mm howitzers based in Goriss, Armenia. Unconfirmed reports
indicate civilian casualty as a result of these night time attacks.


                REPORTS OF MORE ARMENIAN ATTACKS IN KARABAKH

Fizuli ,04/10/92, Turan: Azerbaijani Defence Ministry Press Center reported
that the Azeri village of Govshadli and Fizuli were subjected to massive
shelling by Armenian infantry combat vehicles and large-calibre machine-guns
and also by "Alasan" rocket attack. The shelling was directed from former
Gadrud region in Nagorno-Karabakh. There were several injured.In Agdam region,
the Azeri villages of Gulabli, Abdal, and Papravend were also under attack by
Armenian infantry combat vehicles and machine-gun fire from Armenian villages
of Nakhichevanik and Janyatag in Nagorno-Karabakh. Sedimli and Zakhrabad
villages in Terter region and Jubik in Jebrail region of Azerbaijan were also
subjected to Armenian shelling.


                EXPLOSION IN ARMY DEPOT IN ARMENIA

Baku, 04/10/92, Turan: Azerbaijan military experts have come to the conclusion
that the explosion and ensuing fire in military depot based near Eravan,
Armenia was deliberate. Armenian military experts have issued conflicting
reports on the amount of exploded ammunition. According to Armenian military,
there were 5,000 rocket missiles kept in the depot, but Soviet military
experts indicated that 6,000 rockets were kept in that depot. The military
intelligence sources report that between 1989 and 1990, theft and illegal sale
of arms accounted for a large transfer of weapons and ammunition to Armenia out
of this military depot.

Armenia is reported to pass a bill next week to create its own national
infantry and air forces. According to Azerbaijani National Security Ministry,
Armenia is continuing with a massive transfer of arms to Karabakh.


                AZERBAIJAN ELECTION NEWS

Baku, 04/11/92, Turan: Presidential election campaign heats up as the election
date draws near for the President of Azerbaijan. Already 8 candidates have
registered since April 7th, and the number may rise up to 10 by the end of the
two weak period which they have to turn in their applications. Azerbaijani
Social Democratic Party (SDP) plenum nominated as candidate its chairman, Araz
Alizade for the presidential post, whose brother Zardusht Alizade ran against
Ayaz Mutalibov in the last election. Araz Alizade, the leader of small SDP has
declared optimistically that a decisive election struggle is to take place
between him and the chairman of parliament, Yagub Mamedov.  " I think, that the
people are not going to back the radicals," outlined Alizade. Other candidates
are Etibar Mamedov, the chairman of National Independence Party; Abulfaz
Elchibek, the chairman of Azerbaijan Popular Front: Nizami Suleimanov, the
chairman of Democratic Union of Intelligencia; Ashraf Mekhtiev, the chairman of
Azerbaijani Association of Political Repression Victims; Ilyas Islamov,
Minister of Justice; Rafik Abdullaev, the chairman of Azerbaijani Independent
Democratic Group; and Yagub Mamedov, Azerbaijani parliament chairman. The
presidential election will take place on June 5, two days after the campaigning
period ends.


                FIGHTING CONTINUES IN KARABAKH

Baku, 04/11/92, Turan: On the morning of April 10th, in response to Armenian
shelling of Azeri villages and settlements in Terter region, Azerbaijani Self
Defence Forces engaged in a counter attack on enemy military positions based
near Martunashen of Agdam region and seized them at 15:00 hours. But due to
Armenian reinforcement, the enemy gained the military advantages and
Azerbaijani troops had to retreat. Armenian national army sustained
considerable casualties. Azeri forces destroyed 4 infantry combat vehicles and
seized 20 enemy soldiers as prisoners. Azerbaijani losses were 10 killed and 50
wounded. On the morning of April 11th, at 5:30 hours, Armenian national subunit
, supported with 2 tanks, and 3 infantry combat vehicles assumed an offensive
on Gazdar village in Fizuli region. Using flame-throwers assaulters burned down
the village. Combat around the village is still going on. There is no word on
Azeri losses.

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