KARABAKH DEFENSE MINISTER: WE MAY HAVE TO GO ON THE OFFENSIVE
WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
July 27, 2009 Monday
Russia
Defense minister of Nagorno-Karabakh lt. gen. Movses Akopyan said
Karabakh army had made some advances in the northern direction the
previous year. "If we feel the need to consolidate our position
in, say, Agdam district, we will do so, strictly for the defense
purposes. We have no others. We might have to go on the offensive,
if we have to", said Akopyan. He said in case there were renewed
hostilities with Azerbaijan, Karabakh army would do everything possible
to force Azerbaijan to negotiate. The minister said there were plans
to liberate parts of Shaumyan and Martunin districts occupied by
Azerbaijan, in case of a war.
According to the defense minister, the world crisis had not affected
the Karabakh army. Pay to the services had been increased. When asked
about Karabakh not being party to the negotiations, he said it was
a sign, in his opinion, that there was a long way to go to achieve
Karabakh settlement. "Everybody understands it is not possible to solve
the Karabakh problem unless the voice of the Karabakh people be heard",
said Akopyan. He said it was ill-advised to discuss "any concessions
unless Karabakh were invited to take part in the negotiations".