Minister of Defense of the Republic of Artsakh Movses Hakobyan said that the NKR Defense Army is efficient and is able to fulfill tasks. “May 12 marks 16 years of the ceasefire agreement between NKR and Azerbaijan. Serious incidents have not been recorded at the contact line of the armed forces up to date,” the Defense Minister told journalists in Nagorno Karabakh.

“The Azerbaijani army just wants to remind of itself through opening fire at the contact line of the armed forces,” Mr. Hakobyan said.

Referring to the OSCE Minsk Group activity, he stated that it acts within the framework of its competence and it is a consultative body. A PanARMENIAN.Net reporter quoted Hakobyan as saying that the Minsk Group is well aware of which side is violating the ceasefire regime.

As for the possibility of peacekeeping forces’ stationing in Karabakh, Movses Hakobyan said that Stepanakert treats negatively such statements. “The NKR Defense Army is able to control the situation and secure the country,” the Minister said, adding that NKR will prevent presence of foreign forces in the region.