Azeris fire over 4600 shots at Karabakh positions on Jan 28-29

January 29, 2015 - 12:49 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Over 300 instances of ceasefire violation by Azerbaijani troops were reported at the line of contact with the Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) armed forces on Jan 28 and the night of Jan 29. Azerbaijan fired 4600 shots from various caliber weapons including RPG and AGM-type mortars and grenade launchers towards the Artsakh positions.

The Karabakh frontline units continue controlling the situation at the frontline, retaliating in case of necessity.

Speaking a meeting of army brass ahead of the 23rd anniversary of Armenian armed forces, President Serzh Sargsyan said Armenia reserves the right for pre-emptive strikes in case of ‘dangerous amassment of Azerbaijani troops along the line of contact with Karabakh or Armenia’s border’.

"We have no reason to wage a war, we do not provoke clashes and we never show aggression, we do not need it, however, we retaliate and will retaliate to all provocations of the Azerbaijani side,” Sargsyan said.

He said until recently the response of the Armenian side was symmetrical in form and asymmetrical in terms of casualties.

"We have witnessed a lot of aggressive actions of the enemy this year. We sustained painful losses for which we grieve. I think no one doubts that Azerbaijan will pay dearly for the life of each of our guys,” the President said.

He said the purpose of the aggressive actions of the enemy is to create constant tension by the combination of political and military means.

"This policy is a simple blackmail, designed for the international community rather than Armenia,” said Sargsyan. According to him, Azerbaijani authorities are ready to sacrifice thousands of their citizens to keep their positions, "but we can not allow this to happen at the expense of the lives of our citizens and our soldiers. This can not be done at our expense.”

“We are convinced that the right way is to continue negotiations to reach an agreement on the basis of known principles, and this is possible only by maintaining the cease-fire and trust-building" the President said.

"I once again declare publicly- we are ready for the good and for the bad. We have all possible scenarios on the table. We can and must negotiate peace with sober-minded partners, but with a deluded enemy we must and will compel him to peace," Sargsyan said.