The weapons that we have are under our command - Karen Vrtanesyan s (video)
The display of the "Iskander" ballistic missile system during the military parade dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Armenia’s independence created uproar not only in Azerbaijan and Georgia, but in the entire world, including Indonesia, the coordinator of Razm.info said on Friday. Karen Vrtanesyan says the articles published in the Azerbaijani press, analyzes, statements and hasty military exercises held in the country show that Azerbaijan is in panic after the parade in Armenia. The specialist says by displaying its military equipment Armenia wanted to frighten Azerbaijan. Besides, it also had propaganda purposes. In reply to a journalist’s question whether Armenia can use Iskanders without asking its military ally [Russia] for consent, Mr. Vrtanesyan said, “They said we could not because there was a special code [on Iskanders]… But it is not true, because the Iskander missile system is not operated in the same way as nuclear weapons. We already have trained specialists.The weapons that we have are under our command,” he said. Karen Vrtanesyan thinks that neither Iskanders nor the arms race can bring a final resolution to the Karabakh conflict. “I am always asked about the fate of Armenia: people asked about the weaponry purchase from Russia by Azerbaijan and Armenia. And I say that as long as we have neighbours like Azerbaijan and Turkey, the end is uncertain. We must understand that no weapons will be able to change the situation in favour of Armenia. There will always be a competition, to put it mildly, attempts to undermine the equilibrium, therefore, we must constantly be on the alert,” he said.
