RA President Serzh Sargsyan Prepared to ‘Finally’ Settle Nagorno-Karabakh Issue

Every year, every month, the Armenian army improves: it becomes more efficient, more organized, more manageable, and more precise, said RA President Serzh Sargsyan in a speech after military exercises in Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR) on Saturday.

“That which we have is enough to issue a devastating blow to our potential enemy, but we will not be satisfied with that, we will always increase the capabilities, opportunities, and armaments of our armed forces because there are very disturbing developments in the neighboring republic [i.e. Azerbaijan]. All their mishaps and problems that arise they connect with Armenians. Anti-Armenianism has become state policy. They, regretfully, are preparing their people for war; we, the opposite: we are preparing our people for peace, explaining the importance of resolving the conflict through peaceful means. We openly say ‘yes,’ we are ready to make concessions, we’re ready to resolve the conflict, if the final status of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh will be determined, that is, the problem of security of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh,” said Sargsyan. 

Greeting soldiers and military officers, the Armenian president said, so that the issue can be resolved, the army must always be able to be better and more efficient. 

“Your gun must shoot faster, your will must prevail, your dedication should not have any limits. I am confident that if suddenly the time comes, we will be able to not repeat that which happened in 1992–1994, but finally resolve the conflict, finally we will close the issue,” said the country’s leader, referring to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“As Supreme Commander in Chief, as leader of the [Armenian] Republic, dear soldiers and officers, I promise, you will not need anything. We will acquire modern means, as we have now; we will have everything so that we will be able to preserve [that which is] most precious for us, the lives of our soldiers and officers. 

“Every day they [i.e. Azerbaijan] speak of war, every day they threaten, they attempt to scare us. But we’ve gone down this path. My military friends present here, senior officers remember how in early 1992, who were not lazy in Azerbaijan, who were speaking of when they will drink tea in Stepanakert or Shushi. The dream of many remained within them and they took it with them to that [other] world. At that time too it seemed to them that they are very strong, they can resolve the conflict, and that, in a short period of time. 

“We’ve never wanted war, but at that time we were simply forced to defend our homeland. If the time comes, if they force us, then this time our thrust must be destructive and the last,” said Serzh Sarsyan.