YEREVAN. – There is no likelihood of the resumption of the war in Karabakh. But since the adversary constantly attempts to acquire new weapons, Armenia needs to take steps in response.  

Azerbaijani Studies specialist Sargis Asatryan noted the aforementioned at a press conference on Saturday, and noted that there is an arms race in the region. 

“The Azerbaijan MOD is trying to modernize its aircraft fleet and expand its aviation fleet. In my view, this could result in Azerbaijan’s upper hand in the aviation sector; but this is compensated by Armenia’s and the NKR’s [i.e., the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic] air defense systems, which are considered one of the most powerful in the region,” he added.    

In Asatryan’s words, the tragic events of recent times, on the border and the Line of Contact, can be linked to the January 24 meeting between the Armenian and the Azerbaijani FMs.

The analyst recorded that the Azerbaijan armed forces resort to diversionary operations right before important events, meetings, or elections. In this way, as per Asatryan, Azerbaijan attempts to exert pressure on Armenia ahead of the talks, and to test the alertness of the Armenian armed forces.      

“[But] the recent events have shown that the alertness of our army is quite high,” Sargis Asatryan concluded.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am