Satellite photos fires spread 100km along the borderline, OSCE official says

"But basing on the official reports published in Azerbaijan and Armenia, the mission arrived at a conclusion that fires happened on both parts of the contact line of troops by 2006," Bernard Snoy, coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, head of the mission for fires in Nagorno Karabakh and other occupied Azerbaijani territories told the APA exclusively.

He confirmed that fires were intensive in the conflicting zone in summer 2006.

"The temperature was above the average norm and rainfalls were below the norm during that period. As a result of aridness, the rivers flowing from highlands in Nagorno Karabakh to slopes became shallow. Though hot, dry and windy weather was said to have caused the fire, the level of danger and scale of fire also depended on intensive use of lands and character. The fires damaged the regions close to contact line of troops, and agricultural activity in these regions as well as in neutral regions were suspended for security. The mission also reviewed the territories situated to the west of the contact line, traces of fire are clearly seen in the territories allotted to farmers by 'official bodies of Nagorno Karabakh'," he said.

The OSCE coordinator said that photos taken by satellite were also cited while drawing up the report.

"The photos show that typical agricultural zones and pastures to the east of the contact line of troops differ from western part. As population is densely populated in the east and there are few sowing areas, the fires did not cover broad area, but little population and broad sowing areas in the west caused broad fires. The photos show that growth of plants in the empty villages and settlements caused fires. But according to mission's observations, fires did not seriously harm buildings in ruined villages and settlements. According to the report drawn up by the OSCE mission, there are several causes of fires. One of them is burning remains of plants after reaping. Though burning the remains of plants is officially banned, it is traditional in both parts of the contact line of troops. The second cause is connected with military activity. Using tracing bullets causes burning of grass in dry weather," he said.

Bernard Snoy said that opinions about intensiveness of fires in the contact line of troops and Nagorno Karabakh are reflected in the report. "These factors have strengthened struggle against fires. Hot dry weather caused the creation of fires which spread along irrigation canals, trenches and roads. The members of the mission have observed the traces of this dangerous kind of fires. The relief of Nagorno Karabakh has also influenced spread of fires. The wind blew from the West to the East in daytimes; that is why fire spread to the East faster."

Mr. Snoy stated that according to the photos taken from the space the fires cover the territories from Iranian borders till the north of Terter, 100km along the conact line of the troops.

"Azerbaijani officials noted that generally 63 000 hectares of areas have burnt as the result of the fires. It also includes 9 000 hectares area in Fuzuli, 15 000 hectares area in Khojavend, 17 000 hectares are in Aghdam, 3 000 hectare area in Aghdere and 1000 hectares in Terter.

"'Official structures' of Nagorno Karabakh present different indicators. Due to these indicators 2000 hectares sowing area and 11 000 hectares pasture burnt. Besides, these fires also damaged forest block in slope of the mountain. The fire mostly damaged vineyards, fruit gardens and mulberry areas. It is true that the mission could not define the area of all territories where the fires occurred, but observers and photos taken from the space made it possible to define that mostly fires occurred in the contact lines of the troops. The fires happened in the West especially in the slopes and hills of Nagorno Karabakh have not been reflected in the photos. By all means it is possible to say that the total area of greenery damaged by the fires is much larger in the region in 2006," he said.