YEREVAN, DECEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. In recent days the topic that the situation is again tense in the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact is being actively discussed in the Armenian media and especially in social networks.

Head of the Information and Public Relations Department of the NKR Defense Army, Colonel Senor Hasratyan gave an exclusive interview to “Artsakhpress” on issues related to the situation in the frontline and the upcoming developments.

“Armenpress” presents the full interview.

-Judging from the reports in the media, it seems that the situation in the border is not so calm, if not tense. In reality, what kind of situation is there in the line of contact?

-In reality, recently a significant increase of tension with unpredictable consequences is being realized in the Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact which is being expressed by targeted actions of the Azerbaijani side aimed at violating the ceasefire regime. Of particular concern is the fact that in a certain period of time following the escalations of April, 2016, the Azerbaijani side refrained from firing various caliber mortars and grenades in the frontline, however, in the last two months firing from such weapons took a regular basis. According to the NKR Defense Army’s data, during November the Azerbaijani side fired 143 shots from various caliber mortars, and 65 shots from grenades at the Armenian positions. Overall, within the last month the Azerbaijani forces violated the ceasefire regime over 1600 times by firing over 24.000 shots. They fired more than 1750 shots from ISTIGLAL sniper rifles. This is the real situation in the frontline.

-Does the Karabakh side take countermeasures?

-Of course, in case of strict necessity it takes measures, but only from small arms, thus aiming to suppress the provocative actions of the Azerbaijani side. As for the mortars or grenade launchers, during the period following the April events, the Karabakh side has never used such measures. And the reason is one: not to escalate an already explosive situation and become a reason of unjustified human losses. The Azerbaijani side, and its citizen as well, who is the major bearer of the consequences of the brutal war, must understand that the Armenian side has a courage, opportunities and resources to curb by force the one who started the attack. And it is not the first time the Azerbaijani side was convinced on it… It was convinced during the first Karabakh war, and during the April confrontation of this year. The Azerbaijani commanders by firing mortars in the frontline must not forget the severity of the targeted attacks by the Armenian artillerists during the April escalations. God forbid, the necessity of it felt again…

-Mr. Hasratyan, do we suffer losses due to the shelling committed by the Azerbaijani side?

-Fortunately not, but this doesn’t mean that the adversary insures itself from the inadequate and destructive counter-attacks against it. Our patience has limits, and the Azerbaijani side must understand it. Otherwise, the response will be very painful… One cannot always act as an aggressor, then present itself as innocent and constructive.

-In this case, how to react to every day reports by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry which blames the Armenian side on violating the ceasefire regime?

-In order to be clear who is the real initiator of the attack, each side must do one thing: to accept the agreement reached between the sides in Vienna in May this year, which is the following: to install control mechanism in the conflict zone and follow the implementation of it. As you know, the Armenian side agreed on that proposal, and Azerbaijan didn’t. Therefore, what is happening today in the frontline, it is a reality fitting in a very simple logic, and not only the international community, but also the conscious part of the Azerbaijani society understand it.

-In your opinion, what developments are expected in near future?

-For us the desired option of development is peace. But living in a very complex region and having a quite unpredictable adversary, we must wait for undesirable developments. Therefore, we are ready for both peace and war.

Interview by Vahram Poghosyan