Catholicos Aram I expresses full solidarity with Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan

YEREVAN, APRIL 2, ARMENPRESS. Immediately after receiving information about the escalation of the situation on Nagorno Karabakh - Azerbaijan contact line, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I immediately contacted with the President of Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan and expressed his solidarity with the fearless army of Karabakh. “We stand side by side with Karabakh, its fearless army, people and the state in the full sense of the word. Defense of Karabakh independence and its strengthening is the holy duty of each of us. In these days, when Karabakh has been attacked by Azerbaijan, our nation, inside Armenia and abroad, must express their practical support for the defense of Nagorno Karabakh because Karabakh defense is the same thing as Armenia’s defense”, As “Armenpress” was informed from the press service of the Catholicosate, His Holiness Aram I said.

The Catholicos also highly appreciated the President of Karabakh for his exemplary patriotism and courage. President Bako Sahakyan introduced the details of the sudden attack by Azerbaijan last night, but the Armenian army powerfully responded and repelled the Azerbaijanis which sustained huge manpower and equipment losses. He said that the clashes still go on.

In the morning Aram I also met with the newly appointed Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon Samvel Mkrtchyan. They talked about the domestic political situation in Lebanon and the Armenian community.

Along the entire length of the contact line of Nagorno Karabakh- Azerbaijani opposing forces, on April 1 and throughout the morning of April 2, the adversary undertook large-scale offensive military actions, during which the adversary shelled with missile-artillery units not only Armenian defense positions, but also civilian settlements.

According to the data of the Defense Army, the Azerbaijani armed forces fired MM-21 (Grad) multiple rocket launcher on April 2, at 08: 30 in the direction of Martuni (NKR), killing 12 year old Vaghinak Grigoryan and wounding two other children.

The Defense Army conducts successful defensive battles throughout all directions of the contact line, causing significant losses to the adversary’s manpower and equipment. The Armenian Armed Forces have already downed two helicopters and hit 3 tanks of Azerbaijani army.