Papikyan Addresses the Danger of Possible Escalation

We must ensure the security of our borders through our balanced policy. This was stated by the Minister of Defense of Armenia, Suren Papikyan, during a press conference.

“We cannot shift the burden onto the army or our partners. Rhetoric is rhetoric, but any aggression must be based on something. As the Minister of Defense, I see no grounds for escalation in the region,” said Papikyan in response to questions regarding Baku's rhetoric and the security of Syunik.

The minister emphasized that Armenia has proposals and solutions for all issues. According to him, dialogue and the discussion of our proposals can provide answers, and our approaches and proposals are clear to everyone.

“I do not want to talk about what happened in the past; I am speaking about how I envision peace in the region. I reiterate that all issues have solutions and answers. Some have been conveyed to our partners; there is dialogue, and we are ready to present our views on any issue,” the minister stated.

“I will not respond to aggressive statements since aggression requires bases that do not exist because Armenia promotes peace narratives. I do not think there are grounds for escalation in the region. Of course, everything is not decided solely by Armenia and one neighbor. The region is going through a complex period, but the existing problems can be resolved through negotiations,” Papikyan concluded.