Defence Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh: Karabakh conflict zone needs no peacekeepers

To resolve the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, no peacekeeping forces are needed, stated Movses Akopyan, the Defence Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh, at the meeting with journalists held in Stepanakert on August 19.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in late July, the tension on the contact line began to increase. The parties to the conflict almost daily reported on deaths of soldiers on the contact line and accused each other of sabotage actions.

"The best peacekeeper in the region is the Defence Army of Nagorno-Karabakh. We have everything, including equipment and staff, to ensure the safety of our country," Movses Akopyan has said. Meanwhile, he has stated that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Nagorno-Karabakh will continue to supply technical equipment to the army units on the contact line.

When commenting on the Azerbaijan's purchase of new weapons, Movses Akopyan has expressed the opinion that "good weapons are important; however, it is not a decisive factor, since the army has got such a principle as operational doctrine." The Defence Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh has stated that during the recent armed clashes, the military units of Azerbaijani Army retreated and threw new weapons.

The meeting with the Minister of Defence of Nagorno-Karabakh was held on the initiative of the Armenian online newspaper "Hetq" (Trace). The MoD of Nagorno-Karabakh has supported the desire of the Armenian journalists to visit the military units, and, in particular, the positions on the contact line, where armed clashes took place in July and August.