MOD OHANYAN: SNIPERS MUST BE REMOVED FROM LINE OF CONTACT TO ESTABLISH "MUTUAL TRUST" IN NKR PEACE PROCESS
News | 18.09.13 | 21:01
Photolure
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
While Azerbaijan refuses to meet international organizations' demand to
remove snipers from the frontline, the defense minister of Armenia has
confirmed once again its readiness to withdraw its snipers together
with Azerbaijan, which, he believes, would bring an atmosphere of
mutual trust into the negotiation process and help build a dialogue.
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan said on Wednesday during his meeting
with Yerevan State University professors and students that reaching
a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue is the priority of the
military-strategic administration of Armenia and there cannot be
any alternative.
Azeri APA agency reported on Tuesday that in reference to the
border-related incidents Azeri defense ministry spokesman Eldar
Sabiroglu said at the briefing during his visit to the military units
next to the line of contact that "although Azeri soldiers get killed
because of them, Armenia has suffered twice as many losses and snipers
will not be removed until the war is over".
"As for withdrawing our snipers we say we are willing to create lines
of trust, ready to remove them. This is not a one-sided obligation,
we can see that it is the most basic step to be taken, otherwise
there cannot be mutual trust and dialogue in the negotiation process,"
says Ohanyan.
Reflecting on joining the Customs Union, the Armenian defense minister
says the decision was made out of national security concerns.
"We are strategic partners with CSTO and Russia and implement
military-technical security," he says.
As for conscript Hakop Injighulyan, serving in the army since August,
2012, who accidentally crossed the Armenian-Azeri border when he got
lost at night and found himself on the other side, the minister says
respective measures have been taken to bring him back. The minister
says the soldier will not be prosecuted for his mistake.
"I would not wish anyone to be in Hakob's place. We don't even
know under what kind of pressure he is today, although we have an
approximate idea of what might be happening. Today we are not sparing
efforts to bring him back to Armenia," promised the minister.
http://armenianow.com/news/48572/nagorno_karabakh_azerbaijan_snipers_seyran_ohanyan
News | 18.09.13 | 21:01
Photolure
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
While Azerbaijan refuses to meet international organizations' demand to
remove snipers from the frontline, the defense minister of Armenia has
confirmed once again its readiness to withdraw its snipers together
with Azerbaijan, which, he believes, would bring an atmosphere of
mutual trust into the negotiation process and help build a dialogue.
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan said on Wednesday during his meeting
with Yerevan State University professors and students that reaching
a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue is the priority of the
military-strategic administration of Armenia and there cannot be
any alternative.
Azeri APA agency reported on Tuesday that in reference to the
border-related incidents Azeri defense ministry spokesman Eldar
Sabiroglu said at the briefing during his visit to the military units
next to the line of contact that "although Azeri soldiers get killed
because of them, Armenia has suffered twice as many losses and snipers
will not be removed until the war is over".
"As for withdrawing our snipers we say we are willing to create lines
of trust, ready to remove them. This is not a one-sided obligation,
we can see that it is the most basic step to be taken, otherwise
there cannot be mutual trust and dialogue in the negotiation process,"
says Ohanyan.
Reflecting on joining the Customs Union, the Armenian defense minister
says the decision was made out of national security concerns.
"We are strategic partners with CSTO and Russia and implement
military-technical security," he says.
As for conscript Hakop Injighulyan, serving in the army since August,
2012, who accidentally crossed the Armenian-Azeri border when he got
lost at night and found himself on the other side, the minister says
respective measures have been taken to bring him back. The minister
says the soldier will not be prosecuted for his mistake.
"I would not wish anyone to be in Hakob's place. We don't even
know under what kind of pressure he is today, although we have an
approximate idea of what might be happening. Today we are not sparing
efforts to bring him back to Armenia," promised the minister.
http://armenianow.com/news/48572/nagorno_karabakh_azerbaijan_snipers_seyran_ohanyan