REGIONAL PEACE MAINTAINED BY NKR DEFENSE ARMY, MINISTER SAYS

news.am
Jan 14 2090
Armenia

It is not statements that begin war, Minister of Defense of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Movses Hakobyan told a press
conference, commenting on official Baku’s bellicose statements.

He pointed out that such statements are mostly made for domestic
political purposes.

"We should hear the statement, draw right conclusions and take measures
to find out whether they are trustworthy or misleading. Our state
and army have the relevant agencies," Hakobyan said. He stressed that
the main task is for "the statements to remain mere statements."

The NKR Defense Minister pointed out that the Azeri leader Elchibey
would say he would "wash his feet" in Lake Sevan, but his statement
was followed by the fall of the city of Agdam.

"If Azerbaijan is ready for war, it will start war without asking
anyone," Hakobyan said. He pointed out that war can begin even this
moment for his as Minister of Defense. That is the reason for a large
number of servicemen on duty on the frontline.

As to why snipers have not been withdrawn from the frontline, Hakobyan
said that Azerbaijan refused to sign a relevant agreement with the
NKR Defense Army.

The NKR Defense Minister expressed the confidence that peace in the
South Caucasus can only be maintained due to the NKR Defense Army.

"This is our greatest achievement, and, by enhancing our army’s
efficiency, we must constantly force our enemy to talk to us, instead
of warring against us," Hakobyan said.