Artsakh leader calls for open-ended deployment of Russian peacekeepers

YEREVAN, April 13. /ARKA/. The people and authorities of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) are convinced that the deployment of Russian peacekeepers must be guaranteed and open-ended, Artsakh president Arayik Harutyunyan said to residents of Martakert region. He also argued that Russia must deploy more peacekeepers and military equipment.

Harutyunyan told the residents that talks with the Russian peacekeeping command deployed in Artsakh about the withdrawal of the Azerbaijani side from near the village of Parukh and Karaglukh Mountain continue.

On March 24 Azerbaijani troops invaded the Armenian–populated village of Parukh in the Askeran region of Nagorno-Karabakh, triggering deadly fighting with Karabakh Armenian forces. According to Nagorno-Karabakh defense ministry, at least 5 Azerbaijani soldiers and three Armenian soldiers were killed and many others wounded. Azerbaijani troops partially withdrew from the area after the intervention of Russian peacekeepers.

Harutyunyan stressed that a relative and fragile peace in the conflict zone can be achieved only with the help of Russian peacekeepers.

The president reaffirmed the commitment of the Artsakh authorities to struggling for independence, and stressed that in parallel with the guarantees of Russian peacekeeping troops, the government will continue to work to improve the effectiveness of its own security mechanisms and civil defense system. -0-