Yerevan /Mediamax/. Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan today has stated that the government had to make the decision yesterday, but “we have not lost and everything is ahead.”

He has told that after 43 days of hostilities, Artsakh has lost the regions of Fizuli, Jabrail, Kubatlu, Zangelan, parts of Hadrut, Martuni, Askeran, and most importantly, Shushi.

“We have lost most of control over Shushi since November 5 and completely since November 8. We did not want to believe that we were losing the homeland completely, we did not want to believe that it was impossible to fight with the resources that were available. We tried for a long time to discuss and stop at the negotiating table, but the problems were big. The battles took place on the outskirts of Stepanakert, at a distance of 2-3 km. If the hostilities continued at that rate, in a few days we would lose the whole of Artsakh, we would have many more victims. The military operations, moving to the rear of our front line, would have irreversible consequences for the soldiers who fought heroically on those 43 days on the front line. There would be great opportunities for a blockade,” said Arayik Harutyunyan. He has stated that “everyone will answer” for the failure to succeed.

“We knew we had problems in the Defense Army. The moral and psychological condition of the army was not very good, we did not have the opportunity to rest, to heal: every day in combat operations, every day victims, wounded, shelling… Despite all that, we were able to resist. First of all, I bow to our conscripts, as well as to the families of all the fallen. We had to make this decision in order to save the lives of those same soldiers,” he said.

According to Arayik Harutyunyan, “everything is only beginning; Artsakh, the Armenian nation, Armenia have had very difficult days, but we were able to make wise decisions, to achieve success.”

“Who says this is the end of everything? We will have the opportunity to make more sober decisions, and for that we need solidarity. Our greatest adversary has always been division and panic. National problems are still ahead, our vision has not faded, we have a dream, a homeland of our dreams,” he said.

The President of Artsakh has urged people to stay levelheaded, noting that the civil war is a bigger threat to the whole of Armenia and Artsakh and Armenians must stay united.