By Mariam Harutunian
YEREVAN (AFP)—Four Armenian soldiers have been killed in fighting in Karabagh, Armenia’s Defense Ministry said on June 19.
“Four soldiers of the Karabagh Defense Army were killed and four wounded on Friday as a result of fighting with an Azerbaijani armed reconnaissance group,” the ministry said in a statement.
An Azerbaijani soldier was killed in the fighting, the statement continued. Azerbaijani authorities could not immediately be reached for comment.
The statement said an armed group of Azerbaijani soldiers entered the region late Friday night and then retreated into Azerbaijani-controlled territory after the fighting.
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian condemned the incident as “an open provocation” aimed at disrupting negotiations. “Clearly it was a pre-planned action, which shows once again the true face of Baku, which is doing its utmost to disrupt the negotiating process,” Nalbandian told AFP.
He noted that the incident occurred immediately after a meeting Thursday in Saint Petersburg between Armenian President Serge Sarkisian, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Nalbandian said Baku was trying to “disrupt the negotiations using provocative statements and threat of war.”
Aliyev earlier this month threatened to withdraw from foreign-backed peace talks after he accused Armenia of stalling the negotiations. Baku has repeatedly warned that it is prepared to restore control over Karabagh by force. On Friday, Azerbaijan’s parliament approved a revised 2010 state budget boosting defense spending by a third, as it pursues an arms build-up that has seen it nearly double defense spending in the last two years.
As I have said numerous times before, Armenia and Karapagh should retaliate for every Armenian soldier killed as a result of Azeri violation. Our answer should not be confined to a whining statements from Armenian officials. The only way to stop these attacks is to show the enemy our resolve that they he will pay heavily for these armed incursions.
As we know, from time to time the Azeris conduct these types of futile operations. My guess is that they did this to gauge frontline morale, firepower, weapon position, and reinforcing support of the forward Armenian trenches. Normal reconnaissance, (unless their goal was to take prisoners for interrogation) should not result in such a brazen, foolhardy, display of attack and willingness to sacrifice troops. It was like a suicide mission, the type we see every year from the Azeris against Armenian positions that always result in no value to their side. Not to mention it results in days of tense sniping from the Armenians.
It should also be noted that in the N.E. sector, where this attack took place has close lines of contact between the opposing forces, porous defenses (that would be easily sacrificed in the case of a massive attack), listening posts, etc.
I think the attack was ordered from the Azeri high command. Aliyev and Sargysyan just had another fruitless meeting yesterday in Moscow. This is yet another Azeri threat to vent their frustration over the stalemate and a message from Aliyev to the Armenian people- and a foolish one as it will only harden Armenian resolve, especially at the front, a public relations stunt at best.
Either that or their is not much discipline in the Azeri command or at the platoon, company and/or unit level. It seems the Azeris do not value their soldiers lives as they attack with no real ambition of gaining and holding strategic advantage and have no qualms leaving their dead and wounded, equipment and other material behind in enemy lines. My estimation would be that the Azeri losses were greater than one dead. They most likely dragged most of their dead and wounded back to their lines.
This operation could have been conducted because of recent events in Azeri positions, base camps, lines, and bunkers where Azeri troops were killed by their own comrades and the high command needs to produce an excuse for the dead bodies to assuage the families of the dead soldiers. This has happened many times recently but especially during the war.
What is alarming is the number of loses among the Armenian forces. Why is the area not heavily mined, where were the tripwires and all the other warning mechanisms? Was the Armenian position manned by conscripts only with no seasoned officers in command? When the Armenians counterattack, why are they not using heavier firepower in response? They should be shelling the fleeing enemy to extract more casualties.
In response the Armenians should employ in their best snipers in that sector to do what they best, which seems to be the standard response. A similar attack against Azeri positions is counterproductive. The Armenians also need to continue to fortify their positions and improve their modes of early detection. Even though the attack occurred in the middle of the night, probably during a troop exchange, etc, their is no excuse for a position to be nearly overrun.
MOST ARMENIANS ARE THINKING THE WAR IS IMMINENT Armenians who are familiar with Turks’ tradition, well Know that Turks always at first start with threatening and bulling to test their enemies and If there is no immediate strong response Then they become more aggressive and sooner or later they will start the War….. Beside what Armenian officials, West, East or OSCE Group said or believed There is no doubt in many Armenians minds who already have had experienced with Turks the war in Karabakh is imminent. NOW THE BUCK STOPS WITH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT SARGSYAN. IF YOU ARE A REAL PATRIOT DO A SACRIFICE AND MAKE A CHANGE. AT THIS CRITICAL TIME WE NEED A CHANGE.
ARMENIA NEED WAR TIME MILLITARY CABINET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH A STRONG LEADEESHIP TO CONFRONT WITH ENEMIES.
BE AWARE NOBODY (NOBODY) CARES ABOUT US
——————————————————————-
USA
Hye, matter of fact… Turks are now in their PLOYS mode, one after another, another, another, another… out of desparation. Turks have a long way to go to even consider belonging to the circle of the civiized nations of the world… still in their Ottoman stage.
Matter of fact… the USA State Department has been, for most of the years since the Turkish Genocide of the Armenian nation attempting to bring the Turks out of the Ottoman mentality. But no luck! Turks will be Turks… AND the USA State Department and the White House, have created this… as they convinced the Turks that they are ‘superior’ et al… lies, but guess what, the Turkic leadership believe this – and guess what the USA State Department and the White House, both, are holding on to the tail of the tiger – and cannot let go of the tiger they created, which the world faces today!
Manooshag
i agree with you 100% and just want to add that they sure do retaliate, it’s just not in the news!
Armenian forces should go for an offensive, and liberate more lands from Tatar Turks..they don’t get the message of peaceful resolutions..we should be able beat them in their own territories and force retarded Aliyev to sign a permanent peace, with NKR forces..
Joseph I agree with you.. I am shocked that the Armenian govt did not put their best in the front lines, they did not employ every modern technological equipment to detect these types of attacks… this pat of the Armenia should be heavily guarded but yet we just lost another innocent lives because our govt is sleeping in their soft beds NOT THINKING as always about the consequences of their negligent actions…
The President should definintely put his foot down on this horrible action perpetrated by the Azeris.. who the HELL are they to disturb our peace.. and why is it that US does not put Azerbajian in the corner for this action.. it is absolutely unacceptable and they are breaking all the policies that are in place of keeping the peace.. but it seems like Azerbajian won’t rest until along with his blood-thirsty brother Turkey, they drink every living Armenians’s blood..
Gayane
Once you are a soldier
The death you always face
Before we continue our laments
We should think
To freeze
Armenian soldiers’ sperms
To please their mothers
At least to see
Their grandchildren alive.
We are not moving ,four of our soldiers go like that ?every time they start something ,well they want war lets dip in and go further in .what are we waiting for ?
This is happening and the EU and the world are watching ,we think they are fair ?
They will pay us back
I hope this is a wake up call to Pres. Sarkisyan to have the Artsakhsi’s on better alert. The Artsakhsi Military should have attacked some of their positions to show our strength. We can not afford to lose our soldiers time and time again on the border. The next time our Air Force should make some strikes on their positions. I hope the world powers along with the United Nations are alerted to how the Azeri’s are trying to take away historic territories that have been Armenian for centuries. They also include Nakhichevan, the Javakh Region in Georgia, along with Kars & Ardahan. That also does not include the Sevres Treaty that the Turks must recognize and return the 40 thousand square miles back to the Republic of Armenian.
I think the Azeris are focused recently on this issue because of 2 things. The world recession and the low prices of oil. The economy is slowing down in Azeribaijan. Still many people who haven’t benefitted by the oil there. Aliev has to do this to distract the people’s focus about their bad situations.
It is like Turkey and Israel dispute. The elections are coming up in Turkey and the politicians wanted something like that to happen for reelections. It’s all politics.
Don’t worry there won’t be a war. That would scare off the oil companies there!
Once some pipelines get destroyed, the Azeris will want a truce! Care more about $ than their soldiers’ lives.
as its been said ,,, negotioation dosn’t fit with the caractor of the enemy in this situation , the only language azeriess understand is aggression,,, armenians should regain controll of their anciant an rightfull land Naxichevan,, as a responce to the barberic behaivior of the azeries… NAXICHEVANNE MERR NEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You’re a very smart guy, who are you? I’m in Armenia right now and there’s no buzz amongst the officer corps about it. There’s a few rumors that our deaths might have been higher than reported, but beyond that, everything is fine.
Some think it was a normal routine event, but our side chose to publicize it specifically to draw some international criticism after the Medvedev meeting.
To the editorial board:
Looks like yet another censorship by a terrified AND cowardly board of facists! Hey, at this rate, you can actually compete with Goebbels!
Hey, Robert, or whaever or Turkish name is: In barbarity and savagery no one can compete with the Turks, even the fascists. A ‘barbarian Turk’ is a world-renowned denomination of your ilk. So, please, drop off attempts to equate Armenians with Goebbels, you’re making yourself ridiculous. Even Adolf Hitler, the scariest monsters of all times, brought up the example of the Turks in the mass extermination of the Armenians. On August 22, 1939, when rationalizing his decision to attack Poland, he noted: ‘Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?’ Well, we do. And soon you will, too.
To the Editorial Board:
Well, you’ve once again proven me wrong! Just when I thought that you had changed, even considering elevating you to a minimal point of decency, you’ve censored and then deleted my post to Paul. Perhaps to all of you, this is just a game (as immature as it is). but what you don’t seem to realize even after all this time and messaging, is that your actions reflect and personify what Armenians REALLY are! You all have the same yellow streak running down the back of your spine. Seriously, I’ve never seen a more cowardly group of hypocrites. I invite you to go to any Turkish forum site and see how true professionals work! Until that time, I can only pity you!
Mr. Robert???
If you are a real honest person give your actual name.
Who ever thinks that BBC broad casting is honest,
I say never, since five years i write about our genocide and they clear my letters.
After contacting many people there, they avoid answering me.
I am sure you are not Turkish. Turks they don’t know clear English like you .
You are acting as Turkish and proud to do so.
Armenians are honest people we can’t have double faces
This was the reason Turks vanished us.
I Can’t Analyze a Face that Has Many Faces
I can’t see a person with many faces.
Either they have the face of a dog or a cat
Or a monkey or a mouse or a bird that flies
Or a tiger or a lion that roars.
I can’t see human faces that appear as a fox
I can’t understand, I don’t want to waste
My time with such characters,
As I know, of course, I will never understand.
I don’t have eyes that see many colors
I have two eyes—
They give each other power to look
In one direction. I don’t have in me, genes
Of any type that agonize discretely.
I have one center in my brain,
The occipital lobe
Which should just see one,
Not many and many mentally entangled creatures.
I can see one face through my hazel eyes
Of which I am proud: I will never change
My genuine colored eyes for spurious-lens,
That change every day.
As I am proud of my sincere hart—
With four letters: h, a, r, t,
With the four chambers beating
With satisfied blood of love plexuses.
To publish my happy dictionary
That carries my soulful poems
For those humans who love my new glossary;
Encourage them by poeting their stagnated bleed.
July 17, 2009
People who are advocating war here will be the first to go hide when war broke up who are you kidding? these guys probably dont even live in Armenia isnt it true? Armenia should come a mutual agreement with Azerbaijan other wise I am afraid result will be devastating for Armenian people. Azerbaijan has been investing heavily to its military they got many advantages as fire power, men counts, money, international support etc.
It is not the same country Armenia was faced in late 80s. so In my opinion Armenia should withdraw its troops in disputed territories and explore their option for a political solution.