YEREVAN. – Zhamanak daily spoke with Vazgen Manukyan, Chairman of the Armenian Public Council, ex-PM, and former acting Minister of Defense. Below is an excerpt from the interview.  

“There is a view that Armenia is not equivalently countering Azerbaijan’s sabotage activities. It counters [them] in extreme necessity. In your opinion, what is the right thing? The current posture, or countering more fiercely?  

“This is a political approach. There is an approach that if they hit me, I likewise hit them, but I don’t inflame the situation because the adversary is [already] doing that. And I present each such violation to the international community, but I’m not entirely interested in inflaming [the situation]. Our authorities have adopted this policy. And the other policy is this: If you touch me once, I’ll touch [you] ten times. This [approach] constantly brings war situations, which likewise may be convenient for Armenia. [But] the important thing is that the policy be consistent.”