Armenia and Karabakh Presidents Inspect Troops on Frontlines

STEPANAKERT — President Serzh Sarkisian visited Armenian frontline positions near Nagorno-Karabakh and discussed the tense situation along the Armenian-Azerbaijani “line of contact” with the NKR’s top military commanders on Monday. Sarkisian was accompanied by Karabakh president Bako Sahakian and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian.
The Armenian leader “familiarized himself with the combat readiness of the armed forces on the spot.” He also monitored fresh exercises held by the NKR Defense Army before holding a meeting with the top army brass. No details of that meeting were reported.
The Armenian and Karabakh militaries ended on October 13 more large-scale war games involving thousands of army reservists. They simulated, among other things, missiles strikes on oil installations and other strategic targets in Azerbaijan.
The two-week drills highlighted the growing risk of another Armenian-Azerbaijani war. Sarkisian, who commanded Karabakh Armenian forces during the first war, claimed earlier this month that the Azerbaijani side is “getting prepared for resuming military hostilities and settling the conflict by military means.” He pointed to “a dangerous accumulation of armaments in Azerbaijan.”