NKR DEFENSE MINISTER: KARABAKH SOLELY FOR PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 10 2006

STEPANAKERT, July 10. /ARKA – Novosti-Armenia/. In Stepanakert the NKR
Minster of Defense, Lieutenant-General Seyran Ohanyan told journalists
Karabakh is solely for peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

He said territories, which are under the control of Karabakh, are
not an end in itself, but serve as a security zone for safe vital
activity of the republic.

Ohanyan emphasized that issues relating to territories, as well as
quartering of peacemakers may be considered only on the last stage
of settlement of the conflict, after solution of the main problem –
legal status of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

"If the main problem is not solved, giving back territories will be
out of the question", Ohanyan stated.

Speaking of possibility of resumption of military actions in the
context of bellicose statements of the Azerbaijani President, Ohanyan
expressed an opinion that "Azerbaijan does not want to initiate a war".

He finds the bellicose rhetoric is aimed at probing into the public
opinion and has its home policy objects.

At the same time Ohanyan said the NKR Defence Army has a plan of
effective countermeasures aimed at protecting the republic, and in
case of an emergency "life will show who’s capable of what". S.P.

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