The MP about the next batch of weapons sold to Azerbaijan by Russia, “Generally, it is very painful when you know that your strategic ally is supplying arms weapons to your enemy”, said the RA NAM “Heritage” faction secretary Tevan Poghosyan, in the conversation with Aravot.am, adding that even though it is a business, we should keep in mind that sooner or later all the weapons supplied to Azerbaijan will be used, and, naturally, not against RF, Persia or Turkmenistan but Armenia. Recall that last week the Deputy Director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, Konstantin Biryulin, informed ITAR-TASS that Moscow has completed the supply of 100 Т-90С tanks to Azerbaijan. Russian official considered the possibility of a new batch of supply with the same quantity. Tevan Poghosyan thinks that this matter is not subject to any logic. “What shall we do, to applaud the transaction? Of course, not. This must be raised and discussed. I can understand that there are groups that do not raise and do not speak about it. I regret that our current relations are in this condition, that what is not in our interests, we do not voice it, talk about it and present it.
After all, we need to learn to be guided by the interests of Armenia,” said opposition MP. We inquired whether the understanding of the Armenian side to the sale of “Smerch” is not the result of continuity of this transaction, Tevan Poghosyan responded, “Not only that. It should be promptly said. These types of transactions must be at least voiced. I cannot imagine that, for example, the U.S. supplies weapons to the enemies of Israel, and the Israeli government would not voice about it, saying, you know, it is our strategic partner. After all, they should feel that you’re a country and you have what to say.” Tevan Poghosyan believes that failing to raise the problems, not to talk about them is as much dishonest with the strategic partner. “Should we be honest, we should raise the issue and let our strategic partner know what we are thinking about it.” In fact, recently, in response to the question of a journalist regarding the next transaction between Russian and Azerbaijan, Armenia’s Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan said, “Each country has right to carry out military-technical cooperation within the framework of its plans and policy. We understand that being our strategic partner Russia first of all attaches importance to the military-technical cooperation with us, but at the same time it has right to conduct independent policy. As a leader of the military department, I cannot look at it positively, but meanwhile, I do not have to discuss it”.
Nelly GRIGORYAN
