Foreign diplomats visit Gegharkunik, recording the effects of Azerbaijan’s recent attack on Armenia

Representatives of foreign diplomatic corps accredited to Armenia visited the towns of Gegharkunik province affected by Azerbaijan’s recent attack on Armenia.

The visit was organized by the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan and Governor of Gegharkunik Karen Sargsyan.

Accompanying the diplomats and officials were also reporters from various media outlets. The Armenian Report’s correspondent Ani Gevorgyan was present.

The foreign diplomats walked around Armenian villages of Sotk, Kut, and Vardenis of Gegharkunik province. They witnessed first hand the damages done as a result of Azerbaijan’s aggression.

Their visit was followed by a Q&A with the diplomats and the press.

Major-General Arakel Martikyan, the Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces told foreign ambassadors in Vardenis when asked about the territorial losses during the September 13-14 Azeri attacks.

Major-General Martikyan said the positions which Azerbaijan captured are unimportant from a tactical perspective but important from a strategic perspective.

“We can’t say that they’ve had serious territorial advances here, they succeeded in capturing a few military outposts. But these positions aren’t that important from a tactical point of view, but they are important from a strategic point of view because they are directly above our settlements, they are able to observe our roads and routes to some extent. And most importantly, they are mentally and morally harassing residents of nearby villages with their presence,” the major-general said.

He said that most territorial losses happened in the Armenian tourist city of Jermuk.