UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS
By Elena Teslova
MOSCOW (AA) - Azerbaijan has taken control of the territory of four villages in the Gazakh district on the border with Armenia, an official said on Friday.
The press service of Deputy Prime Minister Shakhin Mustafayev, who heads the commission on the delimitation of the state border with Armenia, said in a statement: “Today, the territory of the villages of Baganis Ayrim, Ashagi-Askipara, Heyrimli and Gyzylgajili of the Gazakh district has been taken under control by the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan."
According to the statement, the territory of four villages covers an area of 6.5 square kilometers (2.5 square miles).
The return of the settlements became possible after Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on delimitation of the 12.7-kilometer (7.9-mile) borderline, it said.
Later the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry released a photo and video showing the national flag was raised and the national anthem was performed in the settlements.
The ministry said in a statement that Maj. Gen. Vusal Sultanov reported to President Ilham Aliyev that the Azerbaijan has taken full control of the territory.