Armenian armed forces to reserve right to settle the issue by force if Azeri servicemen do not leave Armenia’s sovereign territory in reasonable timeframe - MOD

The situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border after May 12-13 provocation of the Azerbaijani side has not changed as of the evening of May 18, Armenia’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement, reporting that the situation is comparatively calm.

The Ministry of Defense highlights the need of peaceful settlement of the issue and highly assesses the efforts of different countries and international structures in that direction.

The negotiations launched from May 14 are still ongoing.

“Nevertheless, in case of absence of peaceful regulation in reasonable timeframe – that is if the Azerbaijani armed forces do not return to their starting positions without preconditions – the Armenian Armed Forces reserve the right to settle the issue in other way, including by force,” the ministry said, adding that any encroachment on Armenia’s sovereign territory is absolutely unacceptable, and the Azerbaijani armed forces are obliged to leave the Armenian territory.