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.