SITUATION AT BORDER WITH AZERBAIJAN UNDER CONTROL OF KARABAKH DEFENSE ARMY
ARKA
March 6, 2008
YEREVAN, March 6. /ARKA/. The situation at the contact line between
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) and Azerbaijan is controlled
by the defense army of Karabakh, the Chief of Armenia’s Army Staff
colonel-general Seyran Ohanian reported.
"Certain cases of fire at the contact line have been recorded, but
military operations are completed in fact," he told a press conference
in Yerevan Thursday. An assault group of Azerbaijani Armed Forcers
attacked on a forefront post of NKR’s Defense Army near Levonarkh of
Martakert region, NKR, on the night of March 4 and temporarily took
it under their control, but then was thrown back by the Karabakhi
side suffering considerable losses.
"On the same day in the morning we tried to get in contact with the
Azerbaijani leadership so that they cease the operations, but there was
no response; NKR’s Defense Army decided to throw Azerbaijani military
back," Ohanian said. He reported use of artillery and heavy-caliber
guns during the operations.
Ohanian also reported that according to the Armenian side, Azerbaijan
is purchasing new arms and is getting ready for certain actions. "But
we have our own aim – ensuring independence and security of the
country.
The Azerbaijani side must understand that Karabakh’s Army of Defense is
ready to protect their homeland and that Armenian soldier has undergone
the required psychological training, he has will and steadfastness. We
can be confident in this," Ohanian said.
In commenting Azerbaijan’s statements that the incident occurred
due to internal political situation in Armenia, Ohanian said that
official Yerevan is not going to draw the attention away from the
situation inside the country.
"We cannot take any steps not knowing what they will end with. If it
was Karabakh’s Defense Army that attacked, the number of people who
suffered on our side would be much more than two," Ohanian said. -0–