Azerbaijan will pay a high price for the lives of the Armenian soldiers killed in raids, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said at the Defense Ministry Board meeting, on Monday.
Recalling that the new year began with intensive ceasefire breaches by Azerbaijan, numerous raids and provocations on the frontline, the president said Baku is waging a policy of blackmail addressed to the world community rather than Yerevan. According to the president, Baku tries to demonstrate the world what could happen unless its follies and caprices are indulged. They do this without considering the possible consequences, the president said.
"Every time when something negative or problematic happens in Armenia, it seems to Azerbaijan that it is its hour of triumph, but they build vain hopes. We saw Baku's appetites 25 years ago, when we were in less favorable conditions. Many of you in this hall can remember how Azerbaijan's leadership warned to raise Azerbaijan's flag in Stepanakert and enjoy tea in Shushi or even wash their feet in Sevan. In response, we demonstrated our strength and our prevalence in the battlefield. Today, we are strong and firm as never before," the president said.
Sargsyan said Armenia has no reasons to unleash a new war and Armenia is against new incidents on the Line of Contact. However, any encroachment against Armenia will be stopped mercilessly. From now on, our response will be asymmetric.
"We have prepared many surprises for hotheads in Azerbaijan. Furthermore, if Azerbaijan concentrates more manpower and combat vehicles along our borders and the Line of Contact, we reserve a right to make preventive blows. We will not wait until we face troubles. We will be merciless. We realize that Azerbaijan's leadership is ready to send hundreds and thousands of their citizens to retain power, but we will not let it happen sacrificing our soldiers and officers. We will not allow this," Sargsyan said.
At the same, the president said peace talks is the best way to settle the problem. "We are ready for both the best and the worst developments. All possible scenarios are on my table. We are ready to negotiate with a sober-minded partner. As for the unreasonable enemy, we will force it to peace," Sargsyan said.
To note, over the past 20 days Azerbaijan repeatedly mounted sabotage attacks and suffered numerous losses. Unfortunately, Armenia also has losses. Since the beginning of 2015, Armenia has lost 10 servicemen on the border.