ARMENIAN DEFENCE MINISTER SAYS ARMY "IN CONTROL" OF SITUATION ON AZERI BORDER
Aravot.am (in Armenian) , Armenia
March 12 2014
Armenian Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan has told MPs that the
country's armed forces control the situation on the border with
Azerbaijan, the News.am website reported on 12 March.
In response a remark by MP Mher Shahgeldyan that recently observed
concentrations of Azerbaijani troops on the Armenian border were a
concerning development, Ohanyan said that these might be connected to
yearly military drills and that the cases of shooting by Azerbaijani
side have dramatically increased since 19 January.
"In the beginning of the year we hold planned military exercises. It
is the same on the Azerbaijani side of the border, where they hold
their exercises too. We do not have to worry, as our Armed Forces
are in control of the situation there. We have recently stepped up
our engineering works [along the border]. About 30 per cent of the
drills we hold take place in those areas which we are defending,"
the website quoted the Armenian defence minister as saying.
Earlier Ohanyan inspected several military bases, the Aravot.am news
website reported, referring to a presser by the Defence Ministry.
During one of the inspection visits a training alert was announced
to inspect the performance of the personnel while bring brought into
full combat readiness.
In another instance Ohanyan toured an air unit, inspecting large-scale
construction works there, state of the equipment and weapons, the
possibilities of a new flight simulator at the base, the website added.
BBCM note: Armenia and Azerbaijan are locked in a conflict on the
Armenian-populated region of Nagornyy Karabakh, which came under
Armenian control after a war, ended with a ceasefire in 1994. As no
peace agreement between the countries is signed, cease-fire violations
are common, occasionally bringing about casualties, for which both
sides accuse each other.
[kp: translated from Armenian]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Aravot.am (in Armenian) , Armenia
March 12 2014
Armenian Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan has told MPs that the
country's armed forces control the situation on the border with
Azerbaijan, the News.am website reported on 12 March.
In response a remark by MP Mher Shahgeldyan that recently observed
concentrations of Azerbaijani troops on the Armenian border were a
concerning development, Ohanyan said that these might be connected to
yearly military drills and that the cases of shooting by Azerbaijani
side have dramatically increased since 19 January.
"In the beginning of the year we hold planned military exercises. It
is the same on the Azerbaijani side of the border, where they hold
their exercises too. We do not have to worry, as our Armed Forces
are in control of the situation there. We have recently stepped up
our engineering works [along the border]. About 30 per cent of the
drills we hold take place in those areas which we are defending,"
the website quoted the Armenian defence minister as saying.
Earlier Ohanyan inspected several military bases, the Aravot.am news
website reported, referring to a presser by the Defence Ministry.
During one of the inspection visits a training alert was announced
to inspect the performance of the personnel while bring brought into
full combat readiness.
In another instance Ohanyan toured an air unit, inspecting large-scale
construction works there, state of the equipment and weapons, the
possibilities of a new flight simulator at the base, the website added.
BBCM note: Armenia and Azerbaijan are locked in a conflict on the
Armenian-populated region of Nagornyy Karabakh, which came under
Armenian control after a war, ended with a ceasefire in 1994. As no
peace agreement between the countries is signed, cease-fire violations
are common, occasionally bringing about casualties, for which both
sides accuse each other.
[kp: translated from Armenian]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress