The risk of military escalation has never stopped, and Armenia has always announced it. Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan told about this to reporters at the National Assembly today.

“It gives us a reason to be vigilant and ready to protect the borders of our country,” he added.

To the question of how Armenia will face this military escalation, Papikyan answered: “It is the confrontation task of the armed forces; I don’t want to give details here. If necessary, we will turn to our partners, too. If necessary, we will petition. Let’s not talk about something that didn’t happen now. You ask, ‘Are you ready to face?’ We are ready to defend every inch of our country at any cost.”

Asked whether there is a military buildup on the borders of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and Armenia, the defense minister responded: “The [Artsakh] Defense Army always makes statements about the [military] buildup around Nagorno-Karabakh and the rest. Also, the Russian peacekeepers [in Artsakh] disseminate a daily bulletin about it. I would propose to close the matter with this.

As for the Armenia’s borders, there is currently no [military] buildup recorded; but this does not mean that we should stop or reduce our vigilance. As there is talk of being ready, let it not be seem that we are preparing for war. We are not deviating from our peace agenda, but that does not mean that our country’s borders or territorial integrity are negotiable.”