Hovhannisyan: Azerbaijan is trying to increase degree of tension in Nakhchivan and bring it to level that is preserved in Tavush and Artsakh

ArmInfo. The Armenian side was able to timely and correctly present information about the situation in Nakhchivan direction to the public. This was on July 3 at the discussions "Silent position warriors, hardening on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border: a creeping war or a repositioning of positions," spokesman of the Armenian Defense Ministry Artsrun Hovhannisyan stated.

According to him, nothing happens in Nakhchivan, which, for example, did not happen in the Tavush direction, say, about 10 years ago or in Nagorno-Karabakh 20 years ago. According to him, attempts are being made to more clearly delineate the relationship between positions, that is, the location of the island positions is changing, attempts are made to bring them closer to each other, which carries some threats as well, and makes the situation more predictable. At the same time, Hovhannisyan stated that this process was first initiated by the Armenian side.

At the same time, the representative of the Defense Ministry of Armenia stated that the Nakhijevan direction was traditionally considered to be calmer in comparison with other directions, however the situation has changed about the last two years, the number of shelling has increased. "In fact, Azerbaijan is trying to increase the degree of tension in Nakhijevan and bring it to the level that is preserved in Tavush and Artsakh, but we are striving for even stronger strengthening of our positions," he said.

At the same time, Hovhannisyan regretted the fact that when the defense department of the country signaled an increase in tension and the transfer of enemy manpower and equipment in April-May, some were not serious about these reports. According to the representative of the Defense Ministry, the reasons for these actions are numerous and can be interpreted in different ways. "We can say that the movement of the enemy was conditioned by the preparation for an attack, or on the contrary, they accumulated force for a possible repulse of an attack initiated from our side." There can be many opinions, but one obviously cannot underestimate the enemy. "And an analysis of the actions of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, a reduction in firing at least the last year against the backdrop of an increase in the movement of forces and equipment is part of a plan. Therefore, one must be ready for war at any moment, although it can not be said that in the coming months it is possible the resumption of hostilities, " Hovhannisyan said.

In his turn, the head of the Armenian Institute of International Relations and Security (AIISA) Stepan Safaryan who at the beginning of June visited military positions in the Nakhijevan direction, stated that the situation towards Nakhijevan in recent years can be qualified as defenseless. "Only this year Azerbaijan began strengthening its positions in Nakhchivan direction, and this is the reason for active engineering work in this direction, but I am deeply convinced that today Azerbaijan is not ready to resume hostilities for two reasons: the first is the vulnerability factor Nakhichevan, the second - dependence on Russia. Today Baku is trying to neutralize both these factors, "Safaryan concluded.