Monday, April 4 2016 10:27

During the meeting with the OSCE countries' ambassadors related to the situation in the Line of Contact between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijani troops, Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan stated that in case Baku continues military actions and they transform into a large-scale war Armenia will recognize the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. 

As the press-service of the Armenian president informs expressing gratitude for such a quick response to the offer to discuss the current situation, President Sargsyan noted that the main goal of the meeting is not only providing information from the first source about the situation in the conflict zone but also search for the ways for solving this situation. "As you know in night from April 1 to April 2 around 03:00 am the Azerbaijani army following its plan conducted unprecedented provocative actions and attacked Nagorno- Karabakh Defense Army's positions using artillery, armored vehicles and aviation. The adversary also targeted civilians from the first hours of the attack", Sargsyan stated, noting that old persons were killed in their houses and children became victims of the aggression. 

According to him the adversary's sabotage-reconnaissance group conducted these actions, which was destroyed. The president noted that due to timely and professional actions of the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army the situation was taken under control. At the same time, according to Sargsyan Azerbaijan's provocative actions are continuing till now. "The adversary continues targeting civil population. Even after the Azerbaijani side's statement about the so-called cease of fire the adversary's artillery continues firing Karabakh's civilians", the president emphasized. 

Serzh Sargsyan noted in his speech that Armenia, which is a part of a ceasefire treaty signed in 1994, will continue fulfilling its obligations on ensuring security of Nagorno-Karabakh civilians. Moreover, the president emphasized that he instructed Armenia's' foreign ministry to prepare an agreement on military assistance with Nagorno-Karabakh. "I should mention and I have stated this for many times that if Baku continues military actions and they transform into a large-scale war Armenia will recognize the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. And this will certainly affect security and stability not only of the South Caucasus region but also the whole Europe", Sargsyan stated. 
"Cease of military operations and final peaceful settlement of the conflict is in European countries' interests. OSCE as a guarantor of Europe's stability has the key role in regulating this conflict", the President stated. He also expressed regret that the Armenian side's concerns that Azerbaijan's military rhetoric may lead to Baku's military attack remained unheard. The president reminded that when Azerbaijan was demonstrating its purchased weapons the international community was silent. And today, when populated localities are fired by Azerbaijani Armed Forces, the international community continues to keep silence", Serzh Sargsyan stated. 

The President emphasized that just few minutes ago Azerbaijan used heavy flame weapons of TOC-1 type.  And while Nagorno-Karabakh's Defense Army confronts Azerbaijani army, which is several -fold superior, the international community only urges "to exercise restraint", Sargsyan noted.