Yesterday the head of the NA standing commission on defense, national security and internal affairs, and former defense minister Arthur Aghabekyan commented the recent announcement of the defense minister of Azerbaijan stating that “as far as Azerbaijan’s territories are occupied by Armenia, the possibility of war is almost 100%” to radio “Liberty” and said that “he relies on our people and army”. Answering to a question whether our army is ready for a war Aghabekyan said, “I rely on our army as much as I rely on our people. The Azeri defense minister should realize this. The Azeri people should realize this too. The Azeri defense minister has made incorrect calculations: he sees a direct connection between the oil production capacities and the defense potential, the potential of their armed forces. We have been obliged to make war, and we have obliged to make cessation of arms… We clearly realize the role and mission of our armed forces in this region starting from the beginning of cessation of arms till now. We also clearly realize the role of the armed forces till the period, when armed conflict will be the alternative, when the alternative of obliging peace will be armed actions. This is the breaking point when you can’t make your calculations basing on amounts of the budget, armed forces. This is where other components of military potential are dominating. This is where the public opinion, the environment in the society are dominating…” According to Mr. Aghabekyan, the Armenian armed forces will continue their suppressing mission in the same manner notwithstanding the place of their location. “The announcements of the defense minister of Azerbaijan, I think, are just a product for inner use,” the former deputy defense minister assures.
