Ruben Vardanyan, Minister of State and Head of the Operational Headquarters of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), visited Haterk, Drmbon, and Vank villages of Martakert region, and had working meetings with community leaders and the residents of these and adjacent rural communities.

The Minister of State noted that the purpose of such visits to the regions of Artsakh and direct contacts with the local population is to inform them about the situation, the work being carried out by the Operational Headquarters to overcome it, as well as the steps aimed at lifting the ongoing Azerbaijani blockade of Artsakh and the respective reactions of the international community.

Speaking about the crisis created by the Azerbaijani blockade, the Minister of State noted that despite the huge negative impact and difficulties, the crisis also forces to learn lessons, to think not only about providing the vital needs of the population today, but also about creating opportunities for the future by building a more efficient and rational system. In this new situation, priorities are revised; a number of sectors, such as, for example, agriculture, and programs being implemented in this sector to increase efficiency, become one of the key directions.

Residents asked the Minister of State numerous questions. Also, they emphasized that the current Azerbaijani blockade certainly creates many difficulties for Artsakh, but they cannot break their will.

The Minister of State, in turn, thanked the residents for their willingness to face the crisis and go through this difficult path together.

"I get a lot of strength from these meetings every time. Every time after meetings with you, the belief and confidence that together we can do a lot and achieve a lot is getting stronger and stronger in me," Ruben Vardanyan said.