Defense Minister Visits North-Eastern Section Of Border With Azerbai

DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS NORTH-EASTERN SECTION OF BORDER WITH AZERBAIJAN

ARMENPRESS
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS: Defense minister Seyran Ohanian traveled
on May 3 to north-eastern province of Tavush where he visited the
town of Noyemberian and military units located close to the villages
of Koghb and Voskepar.

During the visit the minister met with local leadership and senior
army officers for a consultation. The minister was also eager to
learn about housing and living conditions of the servicemen.

Some 40 apartments were built for officers who have their service
in the region. There is also a special area for cultivation of
vegetables. A string of additional facilities, including a gym and
a swimming pool, will have been built by the end of the year to
facilitate and improve the border protection.

The minister then traveled to the military unit located close to
the village of Voskepar, one of the most dangerous sections of the
Armenian-Azeri border.

According to Armen Azizbekian, a deputy commander of the unit, Azeri
soldiers have been reinforcing their positions across the border
without interruption in the last 16 years.

He said the Armenian side is doing the same. In the past a section
of the road that connects the town of Ijevan with Noyemberian came
under fire from the other side and that was why several years ago a
circumventing road was built.

Speaking to journalists the minister said he was making his first
visit to this region as it has many settlements which are close to
the border and which sometimes come under Azeri fire.

He said within the current year a series of reforms will be enforced
in the army to significantly raise its efficiency. These reforms are
designed to make structural changes and upgrade the military equipment.

During the visit the minister ordered to grant a one-week leave to
Zohrab Mstoyan, who was recognized as the most diligent serviceman
of the Koghb unit.