The Ministry of Defense has expressed its concern over the Azerbaijani military’s plan to hold large scale exercises, raising alarm about possible regional escalations.
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In an official statement on Thursday, it highlighted particularly the offensive nature of the operational-tactical drills scheduled between May 18-22. The Ministry notes that the training event is going to test the Azerbaijani defense forces’ capacity of launching massive rocket artillery, air and high precision armament strikes with an operational depth.
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The Ministry calls the attention of the OSCE, its Minsk Group mission (representing the tripartite co-chairmanship format involving France, the United States and Russia) and the international community to the fact that the exercises are being conducted without a prior notice, amounting to “yet another violation” of the 2011 deal agreed in Vienna, Austria.
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Condemning the drills as a potentially exacerbating regional security factor, the Ministry also notes that they are taking place under conditions of a united fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and “notwithstanding UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ call for a global ceasefire.”
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The Ministry calls upon Azerbaijan to demonstrate restraint, and respect the commitments to the international community, warning at the same time that any attempt to bring military equipment or manpower close to Armenia’s state border will be treated as a provocation “entailing corresponding consequences”.
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H/T Tert
BREAKING NEWS: Armenia Worried About Azerbaijan’s Large-Scale Military Drills Under Conditions Of COVID-19 Pandemic.
