The prevention of a conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh requires balancing the sides` military potential, Igor Korotchenko, a member of the Public Council, Russian Ministry of Defense, Editor-in-Chief of the National Defense magazine, said in an interview with Golos Rossii (Voice of Russia) radio.

"My strong belief is that, in response to the contract for the supply of S-300 systems to Azerbaijan, we must supply identical systems to Armenia either free of charge or under a leasing program. And they must be under Armenian military control," Korotchenko said.

Armenian News-NEWS.am reminds readers that many Armenian political analysts and opposition political figures expressed their concern over the possibility of Azerbaijan purchasing two batteries of S-300 missile complexes.

During his visit to Yerevan last August, Russian FM Dmitry Lavrov stated that the S-300 complex has become a symbol of alarm. As soon as a country is reported to be supplied with S-300, panicky statements on destabilization are made. Such statements were made on Azerbaijan, Iran and other states, the Russian FM said. "But let us remember what the S-300 complex is. It is a defensive complex designed to defend a territory from missile attacks," Lavrov said.

"Defensive weapons do not destabilize the situation - with the only exception: if anyone uses force, defensive weapons may create problems for that one. I am sure that none of the states in the region in question is going to resume hostilities. That would be a disaster," Lavrov said.