Armenia "reserves the right to use force" if Azerbaijanis fail to withdraw

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday, May 18 that that if Azerbaijani troops fail to peacefully withdraw from Armenian territory soon, the Armenian army "reserves the right to resolve the issue by other means, including by force."

On the morning of May 12, the armed forces of Azerbaijan violated the border of Armenia in the southern province of Syunik, advancing 3.5 kilometers and surrounding Sev Lake, which is situated on the border between the two countries but is predominantly a part of Armenia. On May 13, the Azerbaijani military committed more border violations against Armenia, advancing near Vardenis (Gegharkunik province) and Sisian (Syunik province).

The Ministry said in a statement that the Armenian side emphasizes the need for a peaceful settlement of the issue and highly appreciates the efforts made by various countries and international organizations in that direction.

"Negotiations that started on May 14 are still ongoing. However, if the situation isn't settled within reasonable time frames and Azerbaijanis fail to return to their original positions, the Armenian Armed Forces reserve the right to resolve the issue by other means, including by force."