WPS Agency, Russia
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
October 29, 2008 Wednesday

TACTICAL EXERCISE WITH SHOOTING PRACTICE ELEMENTS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

"Nagorno-Karabakh has always stood for a peaceful settlement, as long
as its independence and security are ensured," Karabakh President Bako
Saakjan said when the tactical exercise with shooting practice
elements ended.

"We are ready for negotiations with Azerbaijan without any preliminary
conditions. All delays are attributed to denial of the status of a
fully-fledged concerned party to Nagorno-Karabakh. The Armenian people
paid a dear price for this freedom and independence. We cannot be
expected to compromise our independence and security," Saakjan said.

Saakjan was pleased by the performance of the military.

"The Karabakh Armed Forces once again demonstrated their combat
readiness and prowess. We were shown once again that what actions we
saw today will be applied whenever Azerbaijan turned aggressive," the
president said.

Saakjan said that of the necessity arose, the Karabakh army would take
the war to Azerbaijan itself.

Source: News – Armenia (Yerevan), October 27, 2008