Armenian defence minister praises Karabakh military drills
Arminfo, Yerevan
19 Apr 06
Stepanakert ,19 April: “We have repeatedly said and will continue
to say till the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict that
Armenia is the guarantor of Nagornyy Karabakh’s security,” Armenian
Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, who is taking part as an observer
in a combined exercise in Nagornyy Karabakh, has told an Arminfo
special correspondent in Stepanakert.
He rated highly the military exercise and noted that it was held in
conditions very close to the war-time conditions and that it differed
from a true battle only by the fact that “ammunition was used 10 times
less”. He also noted that he considered as inappropriate “the fuss
kicked up by Azerbaijan over the exercise held in Nagornyy Karabakh”.
“Should we also be indignant that they held a military exercise just
50-60 km away from here two weeks ago? This is a normal military
process, which means that the army life continues. Irrespective of
the fact that we have always been for the peaceful settlement of the
problem, our army should constantly improve,” Serzh Sarkisyan stressed.
Asked about whether Nagornyy Karabakh should be involved in the
negotiating process, the minister said: “Certainly, Nagornyy Karabakh’s
participation in the talks is desirable, but I do not consider that
the format of the negotiations will be changed in the near future.”
Serzh Sarkisyan said that by making unacceptable proposals Azerbaijan
“is attempting to snatch more for itself”. “If each side continues
to try and snatch openly more for itself, we will hardly be able to
reach an agreement,” the defence minister noted.
Assessing the situation on the contact line of the armed forces, Serzh
Sarkisyan said: “We never violate the cease-fire, we just respond
to hush the fire.” Serzh Sarkisyan believes the domestic political
situation in Armenia is normal. The political processes in Armenia
are going on normally, which has a favourable impact on the process
of the Karabakh settlement, he said.