Armenia claims ready for an offensive
Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian has warned
that his country`s armed forces are unperturbed by what he called
Azerbaijan`s militarist statements and are ready to withstand any
onslaught.
Novosti Armenii news agency quoted Ohanian as saying in an interview with the public TV channel that the Armenian military is ready to not only defend itself, but to also carry out preventive measures, if necessary.
Asked about the possibility of Armenia`s launching an offensive, Ohanian maintained: "Why not? An attack, a counter-offensive. We are ready even for an attack to protect civilians from the horrors of war."
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy part of Azerbaijani territory, including the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh region, in defiance of international law. The OSCE-brokered peace talks have been fruitless so far.
Meanwhile, Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian alleged his country relies on its military in the ongoing talks on Garabagh conflict settlement. In a recent meeting with top Defense Ministry officials, he said that the armed forces play a special role in peace talks and inspire Yerevan`s confidence in the negotiating process. Sarkisian issued orders to increase the combat readiness of the Armenian military, saying the country`s defense capabilities should comply with present-day requirements and be continuously modernized.
These statements came as Armenian armed forces staged military exercises in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. The drills, conducted in the occupied areas of the Aghdam district last Wednesday night, involved only infantry units, according to the Baku-based Lider TV channel.
The Armenian military began using powerful fireworks in the area after sunset, eyewitnesses said. Following the entire area being lit up, troops began the non-stop firing of small-caliber weapons. The bright light from the fireworks enveloped even the frontline villages of Aghdam that are not occupied by Armenia.
Armenia conducted the exercises in response to the flight of Azeri fighter jets over frontline regions earlier in the day, commentators say. Five fighter aircraft from the Azerbaijan Air Force carried out maneuvers on the contact line with Armenian troops. The fighter jets flew over the Fizuli, Beylagan, Khojavand, Aghdam and Terter districts.
Defense Ministry spokesman Eldar Sabiroghlu described the maneuvers as regular exercise flights.
Novosti Armenii news agency quoted Ohanian as saying in an interview with the public TV channel that the Armenian military is ready to not only defend itself, but to also carry out preventive measures, if necessary.
Asked about the possibility of Armenia`s launching an offensive, Ohanian maintained: "Why not? An attack, a counter-offensive. We are ready even for an attack to protect civilians from the horrors of war."
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy part of Azerbaijani territory, including the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh region, in defiance of international law. The OSCE-brokered peace talks have been fruitless so far.
Meanwhile, Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian alleged his country relies on its military in the ongoing talks on Garabagh conflict settlement. In a recent meeting with top Defense Ministry officials, he said that the armed forces play a special role in peace talks and inspire Yerevan`s confidence in the negotiating process. Sarkisian issued orders to increase the combat readiness of the Armenian military, saying the country`s defense capabilities should comply with present-day requirements and be continuously modernized.
These statements came as Armenian armed forces staged military exercises in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. The drills, conducted in the occupied areas of the Aghdam district last Wednesday night, involved only infantry units, according to the Baku-based Lider TV channel.
The Armenian military began using powerful fireworks in the area after sunset, eyewitnesses said. Following the entire area being lit up, troops began the non-stop firing of small-caliber weapons. The bright light from the fireworks enveloped even the frontline villages of Aghdam that are not occupied by Armenia.
Armenia conducted the exercises in response to the flight of Azeri fighter jets over frontline regions earlier in the day, commentators say. Five fighter aircraft from the Azerbaijan Air Force carried out maneuvers on the contact line with Armenian troops. The fighter jets flew over the Fizuli, Beylagan, Khojavand, Aghdam and Terter districts.
Defense Ministry spokesman Eldar Sabiroghlu described the maneuvers as regular exercise flights.
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