YEREVAN, JULY 28, ARMENPRESS. The Union of Paramilitary forces of Nagorno Karabakh issued a statement in regard to the gunmen’s actions in Yerevan.

The statement reads:

“As a result of the July 17 ambush of a Police precinct in Armenia the blood of an Armenian was shed, and our people’s reputation suffered a serious blow.

It is exceedingly sorrowful that some of the organizers of this attack are veterans of the Nagorno Karabakh War…..People, with whom we have defended our lands standing side by side in the trenches, and today, seemingly we have appeared in opposite sides of barricades.

History will show as to what extent the goal and choice of reaching these goals of the Homeland’s defender – who has appeared on the opposite side – is justified and noble, but the fact that today we already have a distorted destiny of an Armenian, divided people and unenviable political situation is obvious…..It is obvious because as of this moment, we have a dead Armenian Colonel who has been killed by the hand of another Armenian, who has fought for defending Nagorno Karabakh, we have Armenian citizens wounded by gunfire from Armenians, Armenian captives held by Armenians, including a woman….After all this, have we – your yesterday’s brothers in arms, mistaken or simply believed with the power of imagination that represented by you we have brothers in arms who are concerned with our Motherland’s fate?...

Judging by the serious situation, it turns out that we have mistaken….We have mistaken because through your chosen path you are distressing the people and the Motherland, rather than moving it towards empowerment….Let’s not forget that a very short period of time has passed since the events of April and the possibility of an even longer lasting and more brutal confrontation is not ruled out….A circumstance, which tells us to sap our national resistance not by internal unrest, but rather be guided by the vision of unity and consolidation….

Realize, that through your divisive actions you are weakening Armenia, which is already living in challenging times……And by weakening Armenia, you are jeopardizing the future of Nagorno Karabakh. Unlike you, we – veterans of yesterday’s war, believe that peaceful and consistent reforms are the basis for future success of our country which has numerous social-economical issues, we believe that the guarantee of fully ensuring the independence and territorial integrity of Nagorno Karabakh is mutual understanding, not straining the society against their own state….

Given the mixed geopolitical and regional situation, the Union of Paramilitary forces of Nagorno Karabakh urges the gunmen, as well as several public and political organizations who are excited by the latter’s unbalanced actions – to refrain from steps of escalating the internal political situation of Mother Armenia and take the path of reason. And this path is one – abide the Constitution of Armenia and laws and move towards the peaceful resolution of the situation”.