Armenian defense chief admits to army flaws
Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian has openly admitted that
there are major problems in his country`s troops stationed in the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
The statement was made during a military exercise held on Saturday in Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, an Azeri region under Armenian occupation. Ohanian issued orders to eliminate existing shortfalls.
The Armenian defense chief also resorted to a number of populist statements to encourage the occupying army. He said in his speech that making numerous concessions in the process of settling conflicts is acceptable, however, "sacrificing anything is out of the question."
Ohanian said Yerevan supported Upper Garabagh`s joining peace talks as a party, a claim repeatedly rebuffed by Azerbaijani officials. He added that just like the Armenian leadership, rank-and-file solders of Armenia`s military had played a major role in taking over Garabagh. Ohanian also pledged that soon the Armenian military would be improved and provided with cutting-edge weaponry.
Movses Akopian, the "defense minister" of the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic, said the military exercises held in the occupied Azerbaijani territories served a special purpose. He said the self-styled entity`s army had for the first time trained attack maneuvering.
"We have to prepare our soldiers for a situation in which they do not just wait for the Azerbaijani army`s attack, but are ready, depending on the situation, to ward off on their own the threat posed to the security of Garabagh.
"Upper Garabagh`s servicemen will not wait for the day Azerbaijan attacks," the separatist entity`s minister alleged.
Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijan`s internationally recognized territory since the early 1990s. As a result of this aggression, the separatist regime in the occupied Upper Garabagh region proclaimed so-called independence in 1991. The declaration of "independence," which is, itself, a blatant violation of international law, has not been recognized by any country, to date.
The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but the OSCE-brokered peace talks have been fruitless so far.
The statement was made during a military exercise held on Saturday in Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, an Azeri region under Armenian occupation. Ohanian issued orders to eliminate existing shortfalls.
The Armenian defense chief also resorted to a number of populist statements to encourage the occupying army. He said in his speech that making numerous concessions in the process of settling conflicts is acceptable, however, "sacrificing anything is out of the question."
Ohanian said Yerevan supported Upper Garabagh`s joining peace talks as a party, a claim repeatedly rebuffed by Azerbaijani officials. He added that just like the Armenian leadership, rank-and-file solders of Armenia`s military had played a major role in taking over Garabagh. Ohanian also pledged that soon the Armenian military would be improved and provided with cutting-edge weaponry.
Movses Akopian, the "defense minister" of the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic, said the military exercises held in the occupied Azerbaijani territories served a special purpose. He said the self-styled entity`s army had for the first time trained attack maneuvering.
"We have to prepare our soldiers for a situation in which they do not just wait for the Azerbaijani army`s attack, but are ready, depending on the situation, to ward off on their own the threat posed to the security of Garabagh.
"Upper Garabagh`s servicemen will not wait for the day Azerbaijan attacks," the separatist entity`s minister alleged.
Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijan`s internationally recognized territory since the early 1990s. As a result of this aggression, the separatist regime in the occupied Upper Garabagh region proclaimed so-called independence in 1991. The declaration of "independence," which is, itself, a blatant violation of international law, has not been recognized by any country, to date.
The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but the OSCE-brokered peace talks have been fruitless so far.
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
Subscribe
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!