ARMENIAN DEFENCE MINISTER DOWNPLAYS TENSION ON BORDER WITH AZERBAIJAN

ArmInfo, Armenia
Sept 10 2007

The forthcoming large-scale exercises in the breakaway region of
Nagornyy Karabakh are regular ones, Armenian Defence Minister Mikael
Harutyunyan told Arminfo news agency today. Harutyunyan told Arminfo
that the exercises aim at increasing the fighting efficiency of the
Nagornyy Karabakh army to counter an attack if it takes place.

Harutyunyan said that reports concerning the situation on
Armenian-Azerbaijani border often aim at artificial build-up of
tension, Arminfo reports. According to Arminfo, Harutyunyan said
that the number of clashes on the border has not increased, but on
the contrary has declined by 40 per cent.

The minister also declined rumours that Iranian mercenaries serve in
Nagornyy Karabakh army, Arminfo reports.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress