BAKO SAHAKIAN: NKR ARMY IS STRONG AND READY TO REBUFF ANY ENCROACHMENT OF ENEMY

Noyan Tapan

Dec 19, 2008

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. On 27 December at the Officer’s
Palace of capital Stepanakert took place a meeting of the NKR Defence
Army’s Military Council convoked to sum-up the activities of the army
in 2008.

Accordng to the Central Information Department of the Office of the
NKR President, during the meeting President of the Nagorno Karabagh
Republic Bako Sahakyan delivered a comprehensive speech.

In his speech the head of state particularly said:

"During the current year we succeeded in defending and further
strengthening the borders of our country, raising fighting efficiency
of the Defence Army, ameliorating social conditions of the servicemen,
solving a number of security issues.

Aggressive and anti-Armenian policy waged by the authorities of
Azerbaijan, sharp drastic increases in military spendings, frequent
violations of the cease-fire regime require us to be more vigilant
and purposeful in strengthening defence potential of the country. The
issues related to state security, army building, combat readiness of
the servicemen represent call of the times for us.

As a supreme commander-in-chief today I can declare with great
satisfaction and pride that the Nagorno Karabagh Republic Defence Army
is strong and battle-worthy, it is ready to rebuff any encroachment
of the enemy. The neutralization of the enemy’s subversive actions
in this March and November by our soldiers is the best evidence of
that. The state has valued the bravery and heroism of the servicemen.

It is symbolic that servicemen representing different generations
fought together against the enemy. This is the embodiment of smooth
alternation of generations and a strong commitment to keep good
traditions. The very fact that every year the army is remaned by
servicemen with higher military education, their number, by the way,
has already surpassed 1000 people, indicates that special attention
is paid to the cadre issue. I have given appropriate instructions to
the government for employment assistance to officers demobilized from
the armed forces.

The results of current and general inspections, as well as military
maneuvers also show high level of combat readiness and fighting
strength. It is worth mentioning that successful completion of the
recent offensive war games has demonstrated that the Defense Army not
only effectively protects our borders but if necessary it is able to
transfer military operations deep into the territory of an aggressor
state and enforce it to accept peace.

However, we must keep being watchful not to allow the enemy even
to think about taking the initiative and dictating his will to
us. Everybody must realize that the independence and security of the
Nagorno Karabagh Republic are not matter of speculations once and
for all.

Activities directed to strengthening our borders make efficient
patrolling carried out in the positions.

I have given instructions and orders concerning army building, the
situation along the line of contact, amelioration of social conditions
of the servicemen and other related issues during consultations with
the supreme command staff of the army. The last such consultation
took place on 15 of December. I was reported that the discussed issues
have been brought to the notice of appropriate chains, so I will not
touch upon those questions.

However, I would like to underline once again the importance of
issues related to armaments, logistics, intelligence, air defense,
military discipline. Elaborating effective ways to find solutions
to these issues will have a palpable impact on strengthening the
country’s defense capacity and combat readiness.

I consider as positive the considerable reduction of the enemy’s
activities along the line of contact, which were the results of proper
exercise of intelligence activities and control of the situation.

I consider important maintaining proper discipline in military
units. Of course, in military units exercising combat duties along
the line of contact in a situation of constant tensions, extraordinary
cases cannot be excluded.

However, necessary steps should be taken to minimize cases of
deaths and injuries of servicemen that take place under other
circumstances. Special attention should be paid to the issue of
carrying out daily duties of the commanders and officers on the basis
of utmost responsibility, high discipline and self-conscience, maximal
attentiveness towards the subordinate. Any inappropriate casualty casts
a negative impact on the morale and fighting efficiency of the army,
on its image and on further strengthening the society-army ties.

The fighting efficiency of the army is directly connected with social
conditions of the servicemen and their families. For this very reason
the state keeps in the spotlight the progress of work related to
these issues.

The defender of the Fatherland should be as free of everyday
necessities of life as possible, so as to carry out his duties
adequately. Within this context I consider as positive the fact
that in 2008 around 130 servicemen were provided with comfortable
apartments. This practice will be of a continuing nature.

The authorities pay special attention to the needs of the families of
the perished, missing-in-action and wounded freedom fighters. Serious
work has been carried out to solve their social problems, including
those related to housing, life conditions, health and education. In
parallel with this I consider as important the assistance of the state
in full integration of the disabled into the society. The program of
providing hand operation cars to the first disability group freedom
fighters pursues this very purpose. I am confident that this policy
will have a positive impact on further strengthening of a healthy
moral and psychological atmosphere both in the armed forces and in
the society.

In different fields of activities in our country, in public life, in
ameliorating socioeconomic conditions of veterans and the disabled,
in patriotic upbringing of the younger generation the Union of Freedom
Fighters of Artsakh plays an important role. The authorities of the
Nagorno Karabagh Republic rate high active participation of freedom
fighters that contribute to the development and prosperity of the
Fatherland and will keep providing assistance to the activities of
the union in every possible way.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress