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Former defense minister says Armenia diversifies arms supplies at the expense of deteriorating relations with Russia

26.10.2023, 13:46
Armenian authorities are diversifying arms supplies at the expense of deteriorating relations with its strategic ally Russia, Seyran Ohanyan, former Defense Minister and head of the opposition Hayastan parliamentary bloc  said in a comment on a defense deal with France.
Former defense minister says Armenia diversifies arms supplies at the expense of deteriorating relations with Russia

YEREVAN, October 26. /ARKA/. Armenian authorities are diversifying arms supplies at the expense of deteriorating relations with its strategic ally Russia, Seyran Ohanyan, former Defense Minister and head of the opposition Hayastan parliamentary bloc said in a comment on a defense deal with France.

Earlier, French Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu said France is helping Armenia improve its air defense capabilities through the sale of three GM 200 radars and an agreement on future deliveries of Mistral anti-aircraft missiles.

"Armenia 's leadership, in addition to major supplies from the Russian Federation, had purchased a certain amount of weapons from other countries as well. In building cooperation, the existing transportation and logistics difficulties were always taken into account. Transportation all these years was carried out through the territory of Georgia, and partially - Iran," Ohanyan said during a press briefings in the National Assembly.

According to him, no one has ever prohibited Armenia from purchasing arms from other countries. He urged not to forget that the lion's share of Armenian arms is of Russian origin.

He noted that arms deliveries from Russia had been regular in the past. Thus, during his tenure as minister, from 2008 to 2016, some 1,500 airplanes with weapons aboard were flown from Russia to Armenia. -0-