Official confirms Armenia conscripts no longer drafted to Karabakh

PanARMENIAN.Net - The authorities of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) intend to build a professional army, Secretary of the Security Council Vitaly Balasanyan has said, commenting on reports on the withdrawal of Armenia's conscripts from Artsakh, Sputnik Armenia says.

Reports surfaced earlier alleging that the process of "withdrawing the military personnel of the Armenian Armed Forces from Artsakh has begun," and that conscripts from Armenia will no longer be sent to serve in Karabakh.

"There are no conscripts drafted from Armenia, but we are replenishing the troops with contract servicemen. We will maintain the number and quality at the proper level. As for the withdrawal of troops, these conversations are too far from reality," Balasanyan said.

Balasanyan failed to say whose idea it was to stop recruiting Armenian conscripts but did say that both the countries are going to need a professional army "one day."

According to him, the Karabakh conflict has not been resolved, with no negotiations being conducted at the moment. But he said he is “more than sure” that Artsakh will return its territories, at least within the borders of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast.

"And I am more than sure that Artsakh will never be a part of Azerbaijan. And if Azerbaijan barges in again, we will give a proportionate response," Balasanyan added.