I gave priority to lives of Armenian soldiers, ex-president says (video)
07.08.2020,
17:32
Former president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan launched a series of videos on Facebook, in which he shares his views on a string of various issues of concern to the public. Today's video was about the so-called 'four-day' war in April 2016.
YEREVAN, August 7. /ARKA/. Former president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan launched a series of videos on Facebook, in which he shares his views on a string of various issues of concern to the public. Today's video was about the so-called 'four-day' war in April 2016.
The 'four-day' war broke out in the early hours of April 2 after the Azerbaijani army launched an offensive at northern and southern sections of “the line of contact” in Nagorno-Karabakh. The fierce clashes involved heavy artillery, battle tanks, air forces and drones, The hostility was stopped by a Russian-brokered ceasefire on April 5.
"Without a doubt it was (our) victory. A victory over a superior number of enemy who suddenly attacked and used almost all of their arsenal of weapons. We defended all the cities and villages and successfully drove back their large-scale attacks," Sargsyan said.
According to the ex-president, Azerbaijan's goal was not to seize several hectares of land. “Let's talk about those 800 hectares (of land which Azerbaijanis recaptured). It turned out that with more accurate measurements, they are 400 hectares, not 800. After the war, I said that Azerbaijanis succeeded in only seizing 800 hectares of land of the security belt which is 800 thousand hectares," Sargsyan said.
Sargsyan also explained why he did not give order to win back the lost hectares. "During the war, I did not insist that our army return the territory of such an area, because I gave priority to the lives of our soldiers. I was decisive in my decision," Sargsyan said.
In the early hours of April 2, 2016 Azerbaijan, in gross violation of the agreements launched a large-scale offensive along the entire line of contact between the armed forces of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan, using heavy weaponry, artillery and combat aircraft.
Only thanks to the decisive actions of the defense army, which gave a fitting rebuff, on April 5, Azerbaijan was forced to ask, as in 1994, through the mediation of the Russian Federation for the cessation of the hostilities. It has been generally maintained, despite the recurrent violations by the Azerbaijani side. -0-
The 'four-day' war broke out in the early hours of April 2 after the Azerbaijani army launched an offensive at northern and southern sections of “the line of contact” in Nagorno-Karabakh. The fierce clashes involved heavy artillery, battle tanks, air forces and drones, The hostility was stopped by a Russian-brokered ceasefire on April 5.
"Without a doubt it was (our) victory. A victory over a superior number of enemy who suddenly attacked and used almost all of their arsenal of weapons. We defended all the cities and villages and successfully drove back their large-scale attacks," Sargsyan said.
According to the ex-president, Azerbaijan's goal was not to seize several hectares of land. “Let's talk about those 800 hectares (of land which Azerbaijanis recaptured). It turned out that with more accurate measurements, they are 400 hectares, not 800. After the war, I said that Azerbaijanis succeeded in only seizing 800 hectares of land of the security belt which is 800 thousand hectares," Sargsyan said.
Sargsyan also explained why he did not give order to win back the lost hectares. "During the war, I did not insist that our army return the territory of such an area, because I gave priority to the lives of our soldiers. I was decisive in my decision," Sargsyan said.
In the early hours of April 2, 2016 Azerbaijan, in gross violation of the agreements launched a large-scale offensive along the entire line of contact between the armed forces of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan, using heavy weaponry, artillery and combat aircraft.
Only thanks to the decisive actions of the defense army, which gave a fitting rebuff, on April 5, Azerbaijan was forced to ask, as in 1994, through the mediation of the Russian Federation for the cessation of the hostilities. It has been generally maintained, despite the recurrent violations by the Azerbaijani side. -0-
