KARABAKH ARMY CHIEF DISMISSES AZERI WAR THREATS
Lusine Musayelian
article/2040319.html
12.05.2010
Nagorno-Karabakh — Lieutenant General Movses Hakobian,
commande-in-chief of Karabakh Defense Army, undated.
Nagorno-Karabakh’s top military commander on Wednesday brushed aside
Azerbaijan’s continuing threats to win back the disputed region by
force and said his forces have received new weaponry in recent months.
Lieutenant-General Movses Hakobian issued the warning on the 16th
anniversary of the signing of a Russian-mediated ceasefire agreement
that the stopped the Armenian-Azerbaijani war. The truce, which has
largely held since then, left Armenian forces in control of virtually
all of Karabakh and surrounding lands in Azerbaijan proper.
Hakobian said the Azerbaijani war rhetoric is mainly directed at
the domestic public for political purposes. He claimed that Baku
will suffer a crushing defeat if it attempts to resolve the conflict
by force.
"The war’s resumption would be unfavorable only for Azerbaijan,"
Hakobian told an improvised news conference held on Karabakh army
positions east of the Armenian-controlled enclave. "It would be
favorable for us because we manage to easily achieve our objectives."
"And I think in that case we would solve the Karabakh-Azerbaijani
conflict once and for all," added the general, who played a prominent
role in the 1991-1994 war.
The self-confident remarks echoed statements repeatedly made by
Armenia’s leaders. President Serzh Sarkisian said earlier this year
that an Azerbaijani assault on Armenia and Karabakh would trigger
"serious counterattacks." Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian similarly
stated in January that Armenian forces have significantly beefed
up defense fortifications around Karabakh in recent years and are
prepared for renewed fighting.
Hakobian told journalists that the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic’s Defense Army has received new military hardware and
ammunition this year. "This year, we have had quite a serious success
in acquiring air-defense systems," he said. "We have also acquired
new weapons and military hardware.
"That process will be continuous … We are also trying to change
the fleet of army vehicles," he added without elaboration.
Colonel-General Mikael Harutiunian, Armenia’s chief military
inspector and former defense minister, has been in Karabakh for the
past several days, visiting frontline positions and examining troops
stationed there. "The Karabakh army is combat-ready," Harutiunian
told journalists in Stepanakert on Wednesday.
Azerbaijani leaders have for years been warning that they will try the
military option if the long-running Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations
yield no settlement acceptable to Baku. Defense Minister Safar Abiyev
spoke in late February of the growing likelihood of "a great war"
with Armenia.