“An attempt is made to change the current status-quo. However we can’t say that a new status has been established on the conflict zone. Who benefitted from this? It’s needless observing some secret documents and extraordinary facts to understand what has happened and why. The status quo was inadmissible for Baku, this has been repeatedly stated, and still there was a chance for military settlement and an alternative to fail the political process. Political settlement is more beneficial for Armenia, it’s in favor of the country, as time works for Armenia. Although there are some other issues: economic development, impossibility to enter an external world, regression, migration.”
“The Armenian nation is more powerful, than it used to be 25 years ago, when it was in USSR, there was war, but there were only volunteers, freedom fighters, and there were no unmanned aerial vehicles and a regular army in the Republic of Armenia, support from abroad was reaching by unknown ways, it was impossible to connect to Armenia. Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh are states now, “on their feet,” have armies, new ways, the Diaspora and Armenia have interests as well, currently we are more powerful , but under those conditions, we won the war 25 years ago, i.e. I have no doubt that we’ll win the war if it continues, however, I wish, it didn’t. God willing, it didn’t happen, but if it occurs, we’ll win. Karabah is our Sparta, and we all should be united around the concept of Sparta. There is no other way out. When a nation is at war, there is no any way out.”
“As there is no settlement, each side has its own disposition, the situation would better be frozen, rather than shifted to a hot stage. Although I insist, that regional conflicts are hazardous even at a frozen condition, but there is no way out, and it’s completely in line with the logic of Russia-led policy” Alexander Rahr said.
“Wide-scale Karabakh-Azerbaijan clashes on the Line of Contact remind me of 1973 Arab-Israeli scenario, the so-called Yom Kipur War. As, surely, many people aren’t familiar with the scenario, it’s worth introducing its essence in a couple of words. The war unleashed unexpected for Israel, initiators of which were Egypt and Syria. And although, in the end, the Arabian side was defeated, at the initial stage of military operations, due to the recorded serious success, authorities of Egypt, represented by president Anwar Sadat saved his image, and turning it into a document, boldly concluded a Peace Treaty and established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1979 in Camp David, as a result returning Sinai Peninsula. “
The bodies of 18 servicemen of the NKR Defense Army, fallen as a result of the large scale military aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan in April 2-5, were transferred to the NKR side during the exchange. At the presence of the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the NKR State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons registered that all bodies of the deceased transferred by the Azerbaijani side had signs of torture and mutilation.
“The four-day war” showed that blitzkrieg is impossible, and only a wide-scale war is possible. And the latter isn’t in line with the interests of the trio—the USA, Russia and the EU. Are they ready for steps to urge Azerbaijan agree on terms of the new accord on cease-fire? This depends on many factors. The first practical steps by mediator countries will show how far they’re able to go, not to permit new escalation.”
“Principally, I wasn’t expecting a fierce outbreak on the Line of Contact of Nagorno-Karabakh. What we edified before—shooting and tension—were quite typical under such regional conflict. However, recent extension and tension of military operations surprised and bothered not only me, but the whole world, as well, on account of present-day geo-political hotbeds, in any case, it seemed that possibility is secondary from the standpoint of importance and threats.”
Thundering of artilleries were heard from time to time. Positions of the adversary were so close, that it’s already hard to understand, who whom was shooting. We were wandering about the village taking photos of the ruins. The policemen were entering the houses, searching for weapons and documentation there.
“We have principally touched upon implementation of necessary steps to maintain peace. Naturally, the main issue is that the sides appeared on the negotiation table. There is principal perception that it’s necessary to return to political discussions. We have discussed mechanisms linked to strengthening and return of trust between the sides. We will continue those consultations in the capitals, then we’ll meet again, a week later.”
“Our soldiers, our children fighting on the border should know—we are here, in the village, next to them, and they shouldn’t worry, we won’t go anywhere. They defend us on the borders, and we defend them here,” grandpa Yeghish said, continuing to calmly cultivate his land.
