Friday, July 30 2021 14:15

ArmInfo.Provocations on the border with Armenia are part of the efforts and attempts of Azerbaijan and Turkey to get concessions from Armenia both  territorially and in terms of Artsakh's status.

Acting director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Academician Ruben Safrastyan  expressed a similar opinion to journalists in Yerevan on July 30.  On  July 28, Azerbaijan began another shelling, assassinations and an  attack on Armenian military positions and villages. After Syunik,  Ararat and Tavush, the Gegharkunik region of our country once again  became the target of enemy aggression. The Azerbaijani military  conducted targeted shelling of the villages of Kut and Verin Shorzha.  Three Armenian soldiers became the next victims of another  manifestation of Azerbaijani aggression. The Armenian army, according  to the Ministry of Defense, took all the necessary actions in  response to protect the borders of the country and as of 09:20 am the  enemy was thrown back to its original positions.

On the night of July 30, the infiltration attempts of enemy to the  territory of Armenia by drones were neutralized by the Armenian  military. One enemy UAV of the Aerostar type was shot down by the air  defense of the Armenian Armed Forces, its wreckage was found on the  territory of the Gegharkunik region.  On July 30, the enemy again  initiated shelling of the positions of the Armenian army in Yeraskh.  Which was soon suppressed.

"In my opinion, this time we are dealing with a situation that is  subject to serious consideration by the CSTO. In particular, I  consider it necessary for the Organization to consider the proposal  of Yerevan to deploy a monitoring mission on the Armenian-Azerbaijani  border. I think that the another refusal of this Organization, to  carry out the functions, for which, in fact, it was established,  would call into a big question its future, "he said.

Safrastyan attached particular importance to the recently voiced  proposal of Democratic Senator Frank Pallone to stop military  assistance to Azerbaijan. The academician characterizes this proposal  as a harbinger of a possible revision of the US position in relation  to an increasingly aggressive and authoritarian Azerbaijan. In this  light, he recalled that the current position of the White House in  relation to Baku is more conditioned by Azerbaijan's oil reserves.

Commenting on the visit by the speakers of the parliaments of  Azerbaijan, Turkey and Pakistan to the Artsakh Shushi occupied by  Azerbaijan on July 29, Safrastyan conditioned this visit with  Turkey's desire to involve Pakistan in regional processes in order to  further realize its own imperial ambitions. In this light, he  recalled that Pakistan in addition to the fact that has not  recognized Armenia so far is also Turkey's military partner.

"However, it should be noted that this policy of Ankara is directed  not so much against Armenia as against Iran and India. And the fact  that Pakistan appeared in our region with a load of problems with  India and Iran will not lead to anything good. Turkey's ambitions are  quite large, and they are constantly increasing. It is also clear  that in our region it competes not with Armenia, but with Russia, and   is trying to oust the latter from here. In this regard, Yerevan needs  to make significant adjustments in relations with friendly countries,  including relations with Russia, "  summed up the academician.