Papikyan sees no grounds for situation on border with Azerbaijan to  escalate

ArmInfo.Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan sees no grounds for the situation on the border with Azerbaijan to escalate. He expressed his position on January 15 at a press conference in Yerevan, touching upon the militant rhetoric of the Azerbaijani side and the potential for escalation in Syunik.

Papikyan said.  In this vein, he noted that Armenia has  proposals and solutions for all issues. The Minister is confident  that dialogue and consideration of Armenian proposals can provide  answers to the country's stance on the peace agenda in the region and  make it more public, and these approaches and proposals are clear to  everyone.

When asked to assess the aggressive rhetoric of Azerbaijani President  Ilham Aliyev towards Armenia, Papikyan noted that he does not comment  on such statements.  

The head of the Armenian defense ministry did not comment on the  circumstances under which  territories in Syunik were transferred to  the enemy. He simply noted that this happened before his appointment,  and the relevant document is public and available for reading.  When  asked about the movements of the Azerbaijani army on the border with  Armenia, the head of the Armenian defense ministry assured that he  did not have that information.  Regarding the proposal  made by  Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to create a joint mechanism  for arms control with Azerbaijan, the head of the Armenian defense  ministry mentioned that there are international standards and  experience on this matter.

the minister emphasized.  When asked  about the proposal to limit the use of weapons, the minister stated  that in order to talk about mechanisms, they must be acceptable to  everyone.  Papikyan said.

When asked about whether the balance of power in the region had been  upset, the minister reiterated that Armenia does not intend to enter  into an arms race with anyone, including Azerbaijan. He citied the  difference in budget size for this decision, with all its  consequences. he said.   When asked what Armenia opposes to Azerbaijan, which is openly  preparing for war, Papikyan suggested that the obvious reason for  such statements is the militaristic rhetoric of the Azerbaijani  leadership. "The statements worry us, but we do not see a legitimate  basis for them. Armenia raises all the questions and has answers to  the questions of its neighbors. I think our responses can resolve all  the contradictions and lead the region to peace. We will continue to  work with international partners and on a bilateral basis with  Azerbaijan," the head of the Armenian defense ministry concluded.