From: HQ.GGG@FORSYTHE.STANFORD.EDU
Newsgroups: soc.culture.turkish
Subject: News/Haber--Azerbaijan
Date: 15 Apr 92 14:45:47 GMT
Reply-To: Turkish Cultural Program List <TRKNWS-L%USCVM.BITNET@forsythe.Stanford.EDU>


     FARID
 FHM100F@oduvm.cc.odu.edu
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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