I Consider Azerbaijani Defense Experts aren’t that Ninny to Resume War: Artur Aghabekyan

Artur Aghabekyan, NKR Deputy Prime Minister, is the guest of Armenia TV’s R-Evolution (exclusive from Artsakh). Interview of reporter Satik Seyranyan with the Deputy PM is introduced below.

Satik Seyranyan: Mr.Aghabekyan, I address this question to you, as a former RA Deputy Defense Minister: what purpose did Aliyev’s activities of the four-day war pursue, as many said it’s quite different from the war of the 90s, not only by use of armaments and scales, but also, by its very purpose?

Artur Aghabekyan: This opinion may be shared, but as a commander in 1994, following Azerbaijan’s behavior, I might say the adversary hasn’t changed. It possesses some more armaments, but this is the reverse of the coin. Regarding operations, in 1994 number one purpose was speedy settlement of a crucial issue by a blitz-war—regional importance and displacement of population, so that the international community reckoned with its result. This war also resembled it. Both in December 1993 Azerbaijan appeared with likewise statements, and presently it also did. Scenario for military operations, visible from right and left (operations both in the north and in the south), it was obvious it purposes to breach the front. Surely, it was observed that it intends to possess Mataghis water reservoir and the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous region. It’s very crucial—possessing territory of vital and strategic importance. In the south it has expansion depth to dozens of kilometers.

Azerbaijan failed, as our subdivisions performed properly, even Defense army commander couldn’t have thought to clarify main direction of the attack. It didn’t move its forces, it didn’t choose main direction for the attack, it considered that both are main directions, and movement of the adversary should be suspended. It occurred already on April 3. Azerbaijan’s handwriting hasn’t changed. New situation was to follow it. Imagine OSCE MG activities in this condition, under forced peace. Everybody knows that in 1994 Armenian forces and NKR Defense army exerted peace, and it’ss another side of the issue who the mediator was.

Satik Seyranyan: Was the message of those activities addressed to us or the international community?

Artur Aghabekyan:  To both parties. Let’s look back. Which are Azerbaijan’s messages to the external world? They are: “I can’t keep calm, I’ll attack, my people says this, says that,” and when it saw the international community is indifferent towards those messages, it applied to its people, then to the OSCE MG separately, that they are inactive, and aren’t able to settle their issues, and it’s looking for other institutes to settle the issue, otherwise it’ll launch military operations. It’s also worth stressing, that it has actually led those operations for 7-8 months, repeatedly shelling the frontline, implementing acts of sabotage, adding more snipers on the frontline. It was passing those messages to the international community, to show it found the way to settlement. And it closed its page of that type of blackmail on April 3 and 4.

Satik Seyranyan: On the one hand Armenia’s and NKR authorities state there is no alternative for negotiations within OSCE MG, however, on the other hand, we seem not to understand, where should we continue negotiations from? Who should take the first step under totally different situation? Do the Karabakhi authorities see now where it should be started from?

Artur Aghabekyan: We should state, whatever was obtained throughout past years is already lost. Azerbaijan violated the conditions, which it forcedly adopted in 1994 and recorded an unsuccessful attempt. We should accept who we deal with. The international community should fact who is who. We recall how they were putting parity, stating both sides should eliminate snipers. Presently, if the international community goes on with that approach, there will be no peace in our region. What negotiations one should speak of, when all reconnaissance data, movement of armaments and soldiers proved that the state doesn’t intend to calm down. Our Defense army has reviewed its defense, having assessed the results of the recent few days, and reviewed its armaments. Finally, the adversary showed its all arsenal on April 3—Kamikadze, Smerch…It was done to show power, but it failed as well. Currently our subdivisions are getting ready for concrete hitting and Azerbaijan sees that. And their statements now are more perplexing.

Satik Seyranyan: Who should take the first step to resume negotiations?

Artur Aghabekyan: It should be initiated by the international community, it should give assessment, that throughout these years Azerbaijan didn’t prepare for peace. It didn’t adjust its society for peaceful living in this region. And Azerbaijani authorities have already become a hostage in the hands of their population. For the love of God, who do we deal with?—With the society playing with the head of beheaded soldier and authorities awarding them. For the time being it’s not correct to separate. Azerbaijani political authorities should realize that it has misinformed its society for so many years, repeatedly stressing that it will hit, will take lands and etc. Now it should prepare its people for lasting peace. The international community should properly point at it, by making use of resources under its disposal.

Satik Seyranyan: Karabakhi authorities have repeatedly stated these days, that any resolution won’t be adopted without taking into consideration Karabakh’s standpoint i.e. Karabakh should be a negotiating party. How possible is that?

Artur Aghabekyan: If it won’t occur tomorrow, then it’ll be recorded the day after tomorrow. Statements by Artsakhi authorities, should be a clear impetus to the international community, in particular, until when OSCE MG Co-chairs will play? On the other hand, they see that Artsakhi authorities take their country to international recognition. I didn’t ever hear the international community send a signal that you’re on a wrong way, I’s not right to adopt a Constitution. On the other hand, they push that state away to solve the issues of that very state. The Republic of Armenia also has things to do. Not only the authorities, but the society as well. Yes, the Republic of Armenia is the NKR people security guarantor, but we need to send signals to the international community, to take into account its opinion. The international community should also prove Azerbaijan, that the issue won’t be peacefully settled until the subject isn’t a participant to the process.

Satik Seyranyan: Throughout the four-day war and also presently the issue of displacement of the population was being touched upon. To which extent did we succeed and how ready are we in case of resumption of likewise operations?

Artur Aghabekyan: We have a plan of displacement of peaceful civilians, and that plan was formed as a result of experience. We continually allocated resources to make that plan a reality if necessary. Military operations towards the direction of Talish were recorded on April 2. And on the same day, already at 8 am, the population was being displaced. Vladik Khachatryan, already was in Talish at 8 am, organizing displacement of peaceful civilians, as Mataghis and Talish immediately appeared on the zone of military operations. Number one purpose was keeping them in safer NKR settlements. On April 2 and 3, together with the citizens, we were organizing their movement. On April 4, when the adversary stated it’ll hit Stepanakert by Smerch, I went out and saw self-possession of our people. I saw how people were preparing their storehouses, without our support. This was the result, that our mobilization resource—more than 10 thousand people, within 12-13 hours were next to our soldier. They continued standing next to the soldier, realizing their children and women are in safety.

Satik Seyranyan: In your opinion, will new wide-scale military operations be launched? And doesn’t the information on purchase of armaments by Azerbaijan bother us?

Artur Aghabekyan: Firstly, I consider, Azerbaijani experts on defense field aren’t that ninny to resume war once again. And if they are and should resume military operations, everything will be the same. We don’t have Smerch, but we have other armaments substituting it. We’ll efficiently make use of the experience obtained during this four-day war, and not Azerbaijan. The adversary should review its behavior, which should be new for us. It showed everything it could. And today NKR Defense army will implement its duty. I have only one wish—go on united. If we aren’t consolidated as one state, one country, at least let’s be united around the settlement of this issue. And the issue is: restrain the adversary, if necessary destroy it, which we did throughout April 2-5 and continue doing. Let me say good news, money transfers on the account opened on April 3 still continue, and we’re sure we’ll have as much money as the Defense army will need.