YEREVAN. – We do not pursue a politico-military task of capturing Baku and imposing capitulation. But, also, we well assess what irreparable loss we can cause to the adversary. 

Ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Chairman, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, stated the above-said in his keynote address at Saturday’s 16th RPA congress in capital city Yerevan.

“Azerbaijan continues to brag that it will attempt to impose its will upon us by the use of force and violence,” Sargsyan noted, in particular. “In April, Azerbaijan unleashed a large-scale attack against Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)], by committing war crimes against [Armenian] civilians and POWs; this aggression dealt a serious blow to the [Karabakh conflict] negotiation process.

“Armenia and Artsakh have no reason to start a war; this is the most substantial difference of the approaches of ours and Azerbaijan. The problem can be resolved solely through peace talks.

“It’s no less important that the parties [to this conflict] realistically assess the existing balance of power. The events in April proved that Baku has problems in connection with realism. The fact is that our army, being the defending side, fulfilled the task that was set before it.

“The Karabakh conflict can be resolved only through the free self-determination of the people of Artsakh.

“We clearly assess the existing balance of power. (…). We will not enter into an arms race. (…). Instead, we have a good idea of the politico-military tasks that are set before our armed forces; our resources fully meet the fulfillment these tasks.

“The image of the Armenian army is the Armenian soldier, who has repeatedly proved that the determinant [factor] on the battlefield is the ability and motivation to use the weapon, the will and courage.

“The Armed Forces of Armenia shall be one of the best.”