Armenia will not Attack First, but is Ready to Solve the Karabakh Issue

Armenia will never attack first, but was prepared if necessary to resolve the Karabakh issue once and for all, said President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, speaking to the officers and soldiers participating in military exercises on the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia, together with the president of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan and Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian at the end of last week attended a military exercise Defense Forces unrecognized Nagorgo-Karabakh Republic. Unplanned exercise started on November 1 and will last two weeks. A distinctive feature of the exercise is as close to real fighting and a variety of military forces, engaged in them.

“In the case of a threat we will not only be able to repeat what happened in 1992-1994, and finally solve the problem” – quoted in a speech Monday Sargsyan press service of the Armenian state.

According to Sargsyan, what is the Armenian side, it is enough to cause a crushing blow to the probable opponent, but Armenia will not rest on our laurels, the country intends to continue to improve the armed forces, because it concerns what happens in Azerbaijan.

“They connect all its problems and failures of the Armenians” – “Sargsyan said, adding that such behavior is not Azerbaijan receives a proper evaluation.

“They train their people to war, and we, contrary to peace. We say that we are willing to compromise if it is determined the final status of Karabakh, it has resolved the problem of security of Karabakh people “- said the head of Armenia.

He noted that one must be vigilant, and those teachings that are as close to martial law, should be a warning to some and a way of life for the Armenian side, since no other way.

Sargsyan said that Armenia will continue to acquire modern weapons, which already has to be able to save the most expensive – the lives of its soldiers, though, “what we have today is enough to perform the tasks.

“We are trying to intimidate, but we have already passed this way … We never wanted war, but were forced to defend their homeland. And if we are to compel, our strike will be devastating and final “- concluded Sargsyan.

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict started in February 1988 when the predominantly Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region (NKR) has declared its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan SSR. In September 1991, at the center of Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh was declared the establishment of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR). Official Baku has recognized this act as illegal and abolished existed in the Soviet era, the autonomy of Karabakh.

Began after this armed conflict lasted until May 12, 1994, when the agreement came into force a truce. As a result, Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh, and – in whole or in part – the family surrounding areas.

Since 1992 negotiations for a peaceful settlement of the conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group was co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France. Azerbaijan insists on maintaining its territorial integrity, Armenia, protects the interests of the breakaway republic, as Karabakh is not a party to the negotiations.

YEREVAN, November 15 – RIA Novosti, Hamlet Matevosyan.