Armenia concerned over Azeri arms buildup, says senior lawmaker

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is concerned about Azerbaijan’s large-scale arms acquisitions from various countries, Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security Affairs Andranik Kocharyan has said.

“Of course, we are concerned over the large-scale weapons acquisitions carried out by Azerbaijan, moreover from various countries” he said when asked at a press briefing whether there is a risk of escalation by Azerbaijan. “If the former government had been concerned too in the past then during the 44-day-war our warehouses would’ve been full, our mobilization resource would’ve been better trained, we would’ve been rather prepared to withstand problems…”

“We shouldn’t speak much about concerns, we must act and work. And that’s what we are doing now,” Kocharyan said, adding that Armenia is carrying out programs aimed at preventing Azerbaijan’s intentions.