CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VI (1) Contemporary-Eurasia-VI-1-engl | Page 17

CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VI (1)
of weapons and best-trained special forces who, together with the tank
units, incurred the heaviest losses but did not manage to achieve the
goals. The fighting reconnaissance conducted by Azerbaijan showed
that all efforts and huge military expenses did not result in any
measurable advantage for the Azerbaijani army. In the opinion of
some experts, one can hardly refer even to “any meaningful build-up
of combat power or proficiency of the military personnel” 19 .
The military action also revealed huge weaknesses in the Armenian
armed forces, including intelligence, communications and procurement,
which entailed dismissal of three generals who were in charge of these
areas 20 . It should also be noted that the fighting troops comprised
Armenian advanced forces manned primarily by conscript soldiers.
“The main forces, capabilities and reserve components of the NKR
defense army and military units of the Armenian armed forces were
not even given a chance to participate in the action. A large portion of
available modern weapons and military machinery, including high-
precision tactical ballistic missile systems, were not used” 21 .
Amidst the chronic stalemate in the negotiation process and soaring
tension, the key task of the OSCE Minsk Group and Russian
diplomacy is not just continued imitation of the “peaceful process” but
a real ceasefire based on efficient mechanisms preventing the renewal
of hostilities. The military operations between 2 and 5 April 2016
highlighted the need for a reliable monitoring system, including
continuous presence of international military observer groups along
the entire contact line, technical means for live recording, etc. An
agreement providing for development of such system under the aegis
of the OSCE Minsk Group should also include legally imposed
obligations of the conflicting parties regarding detection and
punishment of those who violate the ceasefire.
Minasyan S., The Four-Days’ War: The status quo has become more explosion-
prone, 01.06.2016, http://russiancouncil.ru/inner/?id_4=7652#top-content
20
Mgdesyan A., “Blind and deaf”: Why Armenian generals’ heads came off?
30.04.2016, http://eadaily.com/ru/news/2016/04/30/bez-glaz-i-ushey-pochemu-
poleteli-generalskie-golovy-v-armyanskoy-armii
21
Minasyan S., ‘The Four-Days’ War: The status quo has become more explosion-
prone, 01 June 2016, http://russiancouncil.ru/inner/?id_4=7652#top-content
19
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