NKR Defense Army’s Potential Increases by 20%

YEREVAN, AUGUST 12, ARMENPRESS:

On the 20th anniversary of Artsakh Independence, NKR Defense Minister Movses Hakobyan summarized the achievements and gaps of the first half of the year.

Speaking on the path the NKR Defense Army passed during the past 20 years, Movses Hakobyan said the Armenian army was formed on the basis of the voluntary detachments that were created during the war and experienced the real difficulty of war. "From 1992 to 1994 we not only withstood the pressure by the opponent, but also forced the opponent to enter into negotiations and sign a ceasefire agreement," he said. Nonetheless, in the result, the Defense Army also had some losses, as the region of Shahumyan, district of Getashen, a part of the regions of Martakert and Martuni remained under the control of the Azerbaijan army.

As to the past half, the Artsakhi Minister of Defense said the reform program launched 2010 went on in the army. Particularly, according to the minister, the army gained new arms and as a result the army's potential increased by 20%. "The program will be continuous and we will not allow the Azerbaijani army to let us behind in the issue of arms," Movses Hakobyan said.

He added that in the past half the relevant service of the RA President's Staff conducted a sudden check in a division of the Defense Army and gave a high assessment.