YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan said his government will spare no effort to modernize the country’s defense system and conform it to existing challenges.

In an address to the nation, the president said that Artsakh wants peace and stability in the entire region, but given the Azerbaijani threats they have the right and are obliged to think about self-defense capabilities and opportunities.

He said that the civil defense system will be focused on.

“Existing problems in not only Artsakh-Azerbaijan but also Armenia-Azerbaijan relations must be solved through negotiations, and Azerbaijan must be an honest supporter of this approach, displaying commitment to respect the interests and rights of all parties and principles of ruling out the use of force,” he said.

President Harutyunyan said that maximum effort must be made for guaranteeing long-term security which will enable to keep Artsakh as Armenian and embark on a phase of sustainable demographic growth.

He said that numerous actions of the government were aimed at this goal, including his call on the people in the post-war period to return and live in Artsakh.

“Whatever difficulties and security risks emerge, nonetheless the only path to keep Artsakh Armenian is to live and create in Artsakh, and in addition to the international and state guarantees and efforts, every person living in Artsakh must stand ready to assume their share of risk and responsibility of the sacred mission of keeping Artsakh Armenian: thousands of our brothers and sisters gave the ultimate sacrifice for this goal. In this context I’d like to say that my family has always lived and will continue living in Artsakh, and I can guarantee the security of every family living in Artsakh as much as I am able to guarantee the security of my own family,” the president said.