Armenia’s decision to use or not to use Iskanders to depend on situation – defense minister
22.02.2017,
12:42
Armenia’s decision to use or not to use Iskanders will depend on developments, Vigen Sargsyan, Armenian defense minister, said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
YEREVAN, February 22. /ARKA/. Armenia’s decision to use or not to use Iskanders will depend on developments, Vigen Sargsyan, Armenian defense minister, said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
Iscanders were demonstrated for the first time in Armenia at a military parade on September 21, the Independence Day.
However, according to some information, they were delivered to Armenia earlier, yet before the four-day war in April 2016.
Sargsyan said that this weapon allows inflicting irreparable damage to the infrastructure of a country against which it is used.
That is why the decision will heavily depend on things, he said, but, in any case, Armenia is considered Iskanders as a weapon of a guaranteed strike, if necessary.
“This is, first of all, a deterrent weapon, Sargsyan said in his interview. “It is absolutely obvious that the development of the situation can prompt revision of such approaches, but essentially, in terms of its ideology and its ability, this weapon should cool any hot head in making decisions.”
In response to some media resources’ assumption that the Iskanders brought to Armenia are Russia’s property, as before, Sargsyan said that they belong to Armenia’s armed forces and handled by specially trained Armenian military officers.
He said nobody can deny that Iskanders are in Armenia – everybody saw them.
Sargsyan confirmed that they are Armenian army’s property. “As for other questions, such as when, why, for what money etc, you understand that this information is secret,” he said. “But I can open the veil by saying that they are handled by us, by those to whom they belong.” --0----
Iscanders were demonstrated for the first time in Armenia at a military parade on September 21, the Independence Day.
However, according to some information, they were delivered to Armenia earlier, yet before the four-day war in April 2016.
Sargsyan said that this weapon allows inflicting irreparable damage to the infrastructure of a country against which it is used.
That is why the decision will heavily depend on things, he said, but, in any case, Armenia is considered Iskanders as a weapon of a guaranteed strike, if necessary.
“This is, first of all, a deterrent weapon, Sargsyan said in his interview. “It is absolutely obvious that the development of the situation can prompt revision of such approaches, but essentially, in terms of its ideology and its ability, this weapon should cool any hot head in making decisions.”
In response to some media resources’ assumption that the Iskanders brought to Armenia are Russia’s property, as before, Sargsyan said that they belong to Armenia’s armed forces and handled by specially trained Armenian military officers.
He said nobody can deny that Iskanders are in Armenia – everybody saw them.
Sargsyan confirmed that they are Armenian army’s property. “As for other questions, such as when, why, for what money etc, you understand that this information is secret,” he said. “But I can open the veil by saying that they are handled by us, by those to whom they belong.” --0----
