Return of Territories out of Question before NKR Recognition

PanARMENIAN.Net - «We are not going to return territories, which serve as security zone for Nagorno Karabakh,» NKR Defense Minister, lieutenant general Seyran Ohanyan stated at a news conference in Stepanakert. He remarked that Karabakh supports exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict. «Azerbaijan imposed a war on us and we had to solve the problem by force. Territories controlled by Nagorno Karabakh are not end in itself, but serve as security zone,» he underscored.



The NKR Defense Minister emphasized that questions of territories and deployment of peacekeeping forces of an international peacekeeping contingent should be considered only at the final phase of settlement, after the core issue - determination of the Nagorno Karabakh status - is solved. «If there is not decision over the core issue, return of territories is out of question,» Ohanyan said.



Speaking of the probability of resumption of hostilities within the context of militarist statements of the Azeri President, he said that the Azeri party does not wish to launch a war. In his opinion, militant rhetoric is aimed at testing the public opinion and is aimed at domestic goals. The Minister said the NKR Defense Army has a plan of counter measures, aimed at defense. At the same time Ohanyan said, «If there is an extraordinary situation, the life will show what everyone is capable of.»



Commenting on the proposal of Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia on the need to involve Karabakh detachments in joint exercises of Russia and Armenia, Ohanyan remarked, the NKR Defense Army is always ready to take part in these, reports IA De-Facto.