Arkady Gukasian, leader of the unrecognized republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, has reconfirmed his adherence to the peace settlement with Azerbaijan. \"Mediating efforts by the OSCE Minsk Group cochairmen can bring positive results if the administration of Azerbaijan displays goodwill and a sincere wish to resolve the Karabakh problem on mutually acceptable terms,\" says a Thursday statement of Gukasian on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the unrecognized republic. \"Nobody can take away from us the freedom and independence for which we paid such a big price,\" the statement runs. \"The command-and- staff exercises our army had this August clearly showed to the adversaries of Nagorno-Karabakh that the army is ready for combat and can accomplish the most difficult missions in the provision of security of Nagorno-Karabakh and the people.\" (Interfax)