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YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The ongoing Azerbaijani-Turkish joint military exercises are directed against Armenia and Iran, according to Member of Parliament from the opposition Hayastan faction, ex-defense minister Seyran Ohanyan.
Ohanyan told reporters that the Azeri-Turkish drills have several objectives.
“First of all, they are increasing the cooperation and readiness of the Turkish and Azerbaijani militaries for solving any given task. If the exercises are held on the borders of Armenia and Iran and the objective of the participants of the exercises includes, for example, passing a river, this means that these exercises are directed against the countries neighboring Turkey and Azerbaijan and that they have problems with these countries. Second, it is a show of force to Armenia and Iran. It is also obvious that a conflict between the West and Iran exists in this region, while the representative of the West in the region and in South Caucasus is Turkey. As a conclusion, the Turkish military exercises are explicitly directed against Iran as well,” Ohanyan said. The Hayastan faction leader added that this is why the Iranian leadership has been stating for a long time that any change of borders in the region is unacceptable for them, especially in the section of the Syunik province.
Ohanyan attached importance to the Armenian-Iranian friendship, stressing that Iran has a very serious role in this region.
The lawmaker said that the situation in the region is very tense, especially the security environment around Armenia and Artsakh is very fragile and hostilities could begin at any moment.
“In these conditions, the Armed Forces of Armenia must draw a serious conclusion, our country must give a serious assessment to the military-political situation. Serious work must be done for supplementing the Armed Forces and holding similar drills. They must be of defensive nature, and why not also preventative,” Ohanyan said.