PM Pashinyan: Why can Azerbaijan buy weapons from Italy, Slovakia and Czech Republic and Armenia can’t do so from France?

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has been diversifying its relationships in the security sector, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said.

“There’s been a very important decision recently, the EU, the European Peace Facility, provided assistance to Armenia, which is symbolic in financial and technical terms, but has huge significance,” Pashinyan said at the Global Armenian Summit when asked on the security environment vision. “We are carrying out military-technical cooperation with various countries. And we are also creating a professional army.”

He also responded to statements made in Azerbaijan about Yerevan’s arms acquisitions from France. “You know what’s interesting? They say the West is arming Armenia. Excuse me, but Azerbaijan is buying weapons from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, since when aren’t these countries the West? Why can Azerbaijan buy weapons from Italy, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and Armenia can’t buy weapons from France? Why can Azerbaijan buy weapons from Pakistan and Armenia can’t do so from India?”

Pashinyan reiterated that the Armenian military reforms don’t have any aggressive subtext.

“We are saying that our objective is the protection of our 29,743 square kilometer sovereign territory, a right that is guaranteed by the UN Charter. Furthermore, the documents of the UN and other international organizations oblige the state to ensure the security of its citizens. And we will fulfill these obligations,” Pashinyan said.