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Interfax, Russia
Nov 15 2014
Armenian president praises joint exercises with Nagorno-Karabakh
YEREVAN. Nov 15
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has praised the operational tactical
exercises Unity 2014 ongoing in Nagorno-Karabakh.
"The largest and most extensive exercises that have ever been
conducted within the framework of cooperation between the Armenian
armed forces and the defense army of the Nagorno-Karabakh republic are
nearing their end. Despite the sad incident, I believe the exercises
passed successfully," Sargsyan said in addressing participants in the
exercises at the Tigranakert range in Nagorno-Karabakh on Friday,
referring to the loss of a helicopter shot down by Azeri forces.
The exercises were closely followed not only by Armenia and the
unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh republic but also by "outsiders,
primarily those who call us enemies and who can destroy a helicopter
that is in a difficult situation and does not pose any danger," he
said.
"This is their business. You do your job well. We remember everything,
and a day of retribution will come. Your duty is simple: keep on doing
this. I have said repeatedly that the war started by Azerbaijan in the
early 1990s was a result of the fact that they underestimated us, and
if, God forbid, they start another war, we would only be to blame for
making them underestimate us," Sargsyan said.
"They thought that fighting Karabakh and Armenia was a quick and
pleasant occupation, something like a flash mob: get together, do
something, take pictures and go home. No, there's not going to be any
flash mob. There's not going to be any pleasantry and fun. And I am
sure that there's not going to be a war, because you are here, and you
are strong," Sargsyan said.
The Armenian president insisted that human rights and the rights of
nations need to be defended. "You are guarantors of these rights. You
are responsible for our lives, for our people's security. We trust
you, and, relying on this trust, we will do all we can so that the
problem of Nagorno-Karabakh be settled fairly and so that Armenia's
and Nagorno-Karabakh's security be ensured," he said.
The Unity 2014 operational tactical exercises have been conducted in
the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh republic from November 6 to 15
under a 2014 program of military cooperation between Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenian official sources reported earlier that the Azeri armed forces
had shot down a Mi-24 helicopter belonging to the Nagorno-Karabakh
armed forces while the latter was on a training flight on Wednesday.
Preliminary findings indicate that three crewmembers had died.
Armenian rescuers were unable to approach the crash site as Azeri
armed forces kept shelling the area.
According to the Azeri Defense Ministry, an Armenian military
helicopter Mi-24 had taken an attack course and tried to attack Azeri
armed forces' positions 1,700 meters northeast of the village of
Kengerli, the Agdam district, on November 12, after which Azeri forces
had to return fire and destroyed the helicopter.
va
Nov 15 2014
Armenian president praises joint exercises with Nagorno-Karabakh
YEREVAN. Nov 15
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has praised the operational tactical
exercises Unity 2014 ongoing in Nagorno-Karabakh.
"The largest and most extensive exercises that have ever been
conducted within the framework of cooperation between the Armenian
armed forces and the defense army of the Nagorno-Karabakh republic are
nearing their end. Despite the sad incident, I believe the exercises
passed successfully," Sargsyan said in addressing participants in the
exercises at the Tigranakert range in Nagorno-Karabakh on Friday,
referring to the loss of a helicopter shot down by Azeri forces.
The exercises were closely followed not only by Armenia and the
unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh republic but also by "outsiders,
primarily those who call us enemies and who can destroy a helicopter
that is in a difficult situation and does not pose any danger," he
said.
"This is their business. You do your job well. We remember everything,
and a day of retribution will come. Your duty is simple: keep on doing
this. I have said repeatedly that the war started by Azerbaijan in the
early 1990s was a result of the fact that they underestimated us, and
if, God forbid, they start another war, we would only be to blame for
making them underestimate us," Sargsyan said.
"They thought that fighting Karabakh and Armenia was a quick and
pleasant occupation, something like a flash mob: get together, do
something, take pictures and go home. No, there's not going to be any
flash mob. There's not going to be any pleasantry and fun. And I am
sure that there's not going to be a war, because you are here, and you
are strong," Sargsyan said.
The Armenian president insisted that human rights and the rights of
nations need to be defended. "You are guarantors of these rights. You
are responsible for our lives, for our people's security. We trust
you, and, relying on this trust, we will do all we can so that the
problem of Nagorno-Karabakh be settled fairly and so that Armenia's
and Nagorno-Karabakh's security be ensured," he said.
The Unity 2014 operational tactical exercises have been conducted in
the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh republic from November 6 to 15
under a 2014 program of military cooperation between Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenian official sources reported earlier that the Azeri armed forces
had shot down a Mi-24 helicopter belonging to the Nagorno-Karabakh
armed forces while the latter was on a training flight on Wednesday.
Preliminary findings indicate that three crewmembers had died.
Armenian rescuers were unable to approach the crash site as Azeri
armed forces kept shelling the area.
According to the Azeri Defense Ministry, an Armenian military
helicopter Mi-24 had taken an attack course and tried to attack Azeri
armed forces' positions 1,700 meters northeast of the village of
Kengerli, the Agdam district, on November 12, after which Azeri forces
had to return fire and destroyed the helicopter.
va