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The 2016 April War came to show that Armenia and Artsakh are able and ready to impose a ceasefire on Azerbaijan, throwing its military forces out of their starting position, a participant of the four-day war, Hrant Sarkisov told reporters on Wednesday.

According to him, although proceeding with its aggressive rhetoric, Azerbaijan has concluded from the April War that the Armenian army is the most efficient in the region, ready to adequately retaliate to any aggressive action.

Sarkisov also hailed the support Armenian servicemen received from their families, relatives and the whole Diaspora during the April clashes.

April War participant Zhora Afrikyan assessed the war as another chapter of Armenia’s modern history where Armenians experienced pain and suffered losses.

“Meantime, all that was intertwined with pride and national dignity. The April War emerged as one of the glorious pages of our modern history where the Armenian soldier, officer, army once again proved that it is not possible to talk to them from positions of force,” he said.

“The Armenia soldier foiled the military plan drawn out by Azerbaijan for many years,” Afrikyan stressed.

According to Hayk Torosyan, another participant of the war, the April events alerted the nation that the seeming peaceful state cannot last forever and made people to be always ready and never think the adversary’s nature will change.

“The April War also instilled hope that our army is efficient, the Armenian soldier is ready to defend our country,” he said.

Sarkisov next stressed that Azerbaijan unleashed a large-scale attack against Artsakh on the night of 1-2 April in an effort to capture Stepanakert, but Armenian military failed their blitzkrieg plans.

He believes all diplomatic options have been exhausted in the Artsakh conflict settlement process. “For 20 years, the Armenian side is striving to resolve the issue by all lawful means, but in vain: there are casualties, fatalities,” he said, stressing the need to take decisive steps, resorting to military operations if necessary.