Talking to Armenia from Power Position is Unacceptable: Davit Tonoyan

• 04.01.2019, 15:00
•  Region,  World,  Armenia,  NKR

“The arms market is open to all. Arms, arms procurement decisions are made on price, quality and availability basis, unless there are limitations on supplies from the given country. I have not heard of the US directly supplying arms to Armenia or Azerbaijan. There were dual-use products supplies. Nothing has moved forward since that statement,” Armenia’s defense minister Davit Tonoyan has told Voice of America responding John Bolton’s statement on selling American weapons to Armenia.”

Davit Tonoyan notes that the presence of Russian troops in Armenia does not hamper cooperation with the United States, as any cooperation in the military sphere is carried out by Armenia based on national interests, security.

With regard to sending a peacekeeping group to Syria, the minister of defense notes that there has been a call from Russia, the call of the Armenian community and the Syrian people.

“The conditions laid grounds and an opportunity was created, because Armenia did not have the opportunity of self-deployment. We are supported by the Russian Federation, in particular the Ministry of Defense. We are happy for that opportunity, because another country with Armenian communities has not made such an offer of a helping hand to us. ։ You know very well the countries that have presence in Syria, where the Armenian community continues to create. Unfortunately, places with other forces located, the Armenian community is either missing or has left those. We could not but take advantage of the opportunity. I am thankful to the Russian side for the support,” Tonoyan says.

Responding to the statement “New war for new territories” made in New York that caused a lot of unrest particularly in Azerbaijan, Tonoyan said that it is unacceptable to talk to the Republic of Armenia, Armenian armed forces, Artsakh army from power positions and threaten the Armenian people with a possible war.

“I said what I said as a defense minister. I reiterate, to talk to Armenia and the Armenian people, at least with the minister of defense from power positions is impermissible. Society should also accept that,” Tonoyan says.

Regarding Azerbaijan’s perception of the minister’s statement labelled as bellicose of no compromise, Davit Tonoyan said he could not explain that perception and added that the response of the Azerbaijani foreign ministry was more bellicose.