Armenia First Deputy Defense Minister noted in his speech that the Armenian side is ready for any kind of development and if necessary – up to direct military support for NKR protection.
The situation all along the Line of Contact between the Karabakh-Azerbaijani opposing forces continues to remain tense. The most intense battles are taking place in the northeastern and southeastern directions.
“Reality is different. Throughout recent 24 hours Azerbaijan announced twice on highest level that suspends fire, but it still continues its terror acts. This is typical to Azerbaijan and this is speculation. We always said, we are ready for normal constructive dialogue and peaceful settlement of the conflict, however, this doesn’t mean, we are weak and aren’t able to defend our independence, freedom and dignity,” NKR President Press Secretary told.
2 more adversary tanks and a battle vehicle were destroyed today in the south-eastern direction. Overall, the Azerbaijani forces lost 14 tanks and more than 5 other military equipments, including a battle vehicle; 168.am was informed by the Press Service of the Nagorno Karabakh Defense Ministry.
The Armenian side destroyed 14 Azerbaijani tanks during the military operations, which were unleashed by Azerbaijan from April 1 and April 2, 1, said the Press Secretary of the Nagorno Karabakh Defense Ministry Senor Hasratyan.
“There are three crucial points, which I’d like to stress. The first one, Erdoğan will never recognize rights of Kurds, vivid evidence to which was overturning of initiated peaceful process, which was inspiring hope for the issue settlement. The second one, Abdullah Öcalan has been in powerful, inhuman isolation, for about a year, from last April, nobody visited him, and this is another issue, that pushes for tension. The third one, Turkey’s authorities, in particular, power structures, have blockaded Kurdish-populated cities, like Jzir, Nsedi, Shrnak, Kote, Dilja and, surely, among the most important ones, Sur district in Diyarbakir, where Armenian serious cultural heritage is available as well.”
During the military operations 2 soldiers were wounded from the Karabakh side. The Nagorno Karabakh forces conduct successful military operations in the southern part of the frontline also. By withstanding the enemy’s artillery and rocket attacks, the Defense Army units destroyed 2 enemy tanks and 1 battle vehicle. Details and developments will be reported in upcoming press releases.
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Pedro Agramunt called on the Nagorno Karabakh conflicting sides to respect the ceasefire and resume negotiations. As reports Agramunt expressed deep concern over the violence and escalation in the Nagorno Karabakh contact line.
While details of the latest deadly escalation are emerging, it is worth mentioning that satellite imagery available to independent international security analysts has shown that in the last six months the Azeri military have been amassing military hardware and conducting military drills along the Agdam, Fizuli and Djabrayil regions controlled by the Nagorno Karabakh, in the southern and south-eastern parts of the NK. Today’s reports from Azerbaijan and Armenia confirmed that these regions were seeing the heaviest fighting. This implies premeditation on behalf of Azeri forces, contrary to the Azeri official statements claiming that the assault on 2 April was a simple response to the Armenian alleged shootings.
The dangerous aspect to this is that, once begun, any military operations in this conflict zone can easily escalate and get out of control. An unpredictable conflict environment combines with a tough macho political culture where it is seen as a sign of weakness to compromise. And, as the Prussian general Helmuth von Moltke said, “No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy.”
