STEPANAKERT—On Jan. 17, Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakian partook in a meeting of the Artsakh Defense Army’s Military Council, called to sum up the state of the Republic in 2013.

In his speech, the president touched upon the process of army building, emphasizing the Artsakh army’s achievements and existing problems.

According to Bako Sahakian, strengthening the military has been and will remain among the key guidelines of the state-building process.

Speaking about the current situation at the border with Azerbaijan, President Sahakian noted that Baku continues its policy of grossly violating the ceasefire regime, threatening Artsakh and Armenia, and breaking fundamental norms and principles of international law, adding that “in the face of such hostile behavior we must be more vigilant, continue to keep the initiative in our hands, and at the same time not yield to provocations.”

The President gave concrete instructions to the defense minister and the supreme command staff of the army for finding proper solutions to existing problems.