Armenian Defense Minister threatens Azerbaijan

Baku / 23.07.18 / Turan: Armenia "universally" is preparing for possible military actions, Armenian Defense Minister David Tonoyan stated in an interview with the Russian publication EADaily. He called his primary task "the creation of favorable military conditions for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict".

Armenia is the guarantor of the physical security of Artsakh. Taking into account Baku's statements on the readiness to resolve the conflict by military means, the Armenian Armed Forces must provide "a permanent sobering effect on the enemy," he said.

How big is the threat of the resumption of large-scale combat? Answering this question, Tonoyan said that Azerbaijani troops are concentrated along the border with Armenia and on the contact line in Karabakh.

"Of particular concern is the activation of Azerbaijani troops in the Nakhichevan direction, where comparative tranquility reigned until now. Any manifestation of military provocation on this site is fraught with fueling a big crisis, which will also affect other regional players, "he said.

Further, he openly threatened Azerbaijan that if the war was resumed, the mediators would not be able to convince the Armenian side to suspend "retaliatory punitive actions during the conduct of a limited military operation in Baku," as it was in April 2016.

"Azerbaijan will not be allowed to retain the monopoly right to determine the place, time and scale of the escalation of the situation," Tonoyan said.

The Armenian side made necessary changes in the deployment of troops, in providing weapons and military equipment. Technical solutions are made, which exclude the factor of surprise of the future attack, Tonoyan is sure.

At the same time, he admitted that Yerevan is concerned about the new military equipment of Azerbaijan, shown at the recent military parade in Baku. However, for any kind of weapons there are their own countermeasures, and here the Armenian side, of course, does not sit idly by, he said on this matter, he remarked.

The minister called the military alliance between Turkey and Azerbaijan a source of concern for Armenia. In addition to political assistance, in terms of military cooperation, Turkey is Azerbaijan's main partner.

Does Armenia intend to acquire Russian Su-30SM fighters? To this question, Tonoyan said that Yerevan is considering the option of buying several models of aircraft of different modifications and military equipment.

Armenia plans to develop not just fighter aviation, but multifunctional air forces capable of delivering deep air strikes, the minister said. -02D-