Edward Nalbandian: Armenia to Continue Close Military Cooperation with Russia

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian stated that Armenia will continue its close cooperation with Russia in military and military-technical sphere. The Minister noted during an interview with the “Komersant” newspaper.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova, commenting on Azerbaijani reports of protests about the supply of arms to Armenia, said that supplies of weapons from Russia to Armenia and Azerbaijan are carried out taking into account strict observance of the need for maintaining balance of forces in the region.

“In recent years Azerbaijan has increased its military spending. We have strategic relations with Russia, a close military, including military-technical cooperation. It is no secret that we buy weapons from our strategic partner, and we will continue to closely cooperate with Russia in military-technical terms, “Armenian Foreign Minister said, commenting on the statement by Zakharova.

According to the Minister, the fact that Russia, being one of the largest weapon manufacturers, is selling weapons to various countries is natural. However, at the same time, according to him, Armenia cannot “be joyful” of the fact that Azerbaijan buys weapons and threatens to unleash a new war.

“We cannot like the fact that the weapons are purchased from our ally, who is making an effort to cooperate with Armenia, including in the framework of CSTO,” Nalbandian stated.