Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan said, at a press conference today in Stepanakert, he would ask Armenia to recognize his country’s independence if he doesn’t see, in the next day or two, a willingness on the part of Azerbaijan to resolve the conflict peacefully.

He said that he would appeal to other countries and international organizations as well to recognize Artsakh’s independence.

Harutyunyan accused those countries supporting Azerbaijan of supporting terrorism, which he described as a scourge penetrating the region via Azerbaijan.

He stated that Azerbaijan is using Smerch and Polonez missile systems, drones against the civilian population of Artsakh.

"There is not a single area in Stepanakert where rocket shells have not exploded several times. Human rights are being violated in Artsakh, the civilian population is being annihilated," he said.

He described the situation on the line of contact as relatively calm, adding that it can change at any moment.

Speaking about the ceasefire, Harutyunyan said that everyone can testify that there was no ceasefire yesterday.

Harutyunyan said that if Azerbaijan does not heed the calls of international organizations for peace talks, he will apply to all countries to recognize Artsakh's right to self-determination.

He stated that the people of Artsakh are in favor of peace, but he cannot accept an obligatory condition from a country whose goal is to exterminate the people of Artsakh.

 "I will declare a patriotic war. I will call on all Armenians to participate physically and materially. Do they want a long war? They have chosen that path. We will not give up if that war is forced on us," the president said.

Speaking about the Azerbaijani subversion attempt in Hadrut on October 10, Harutyunyan stated that the special unit managed to penetrate the city of Hadrut and the surrounding area with the aim of capturing the town but were prevented by Armenian forces

Harutyunyan aid that before the press conference he talked to the head of Hadrut administrative district, in his office, by phone.

Harutyunyan noted that the Israeli government is aware that the drones it provides are used not for defense but for attack. The latter recalled that during the April 2016 war, Israeli drones were used by Israeli specialists.

Harutyunyan also confirmed that according to the agreement, the corpses and captives should be exchanged today through the mediation of the International Red Cross.