Acting Foreign Minister: Armenia has not received any arms sales offers from US
"Armenia has not received any offers on arms sales from the US," Acting Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said in an interview with "Tass" agency.
The latter recalled that recently John Bolton, National Security Advisor to the USPresident, visited Armenia. He had also talked about the possibility of supplying Armenia with American arms, while Prime Minister Pashinyan had said that in case of a favorable offer, the Armenian side will consider that opportunity.
"What is it, a political statement, or a negotiation process over US arms?" "TASS" reporter asked Mnatsakanyan.
"Our country is in a sensitive region where unresolved conflicts exist, reaching peace and stability is one of the most important issues for us. Under these circumstances, arms race is a very dangerous phenomenon," said the Acting FM.
According to him, when Armenia expresses its dissatisfaction with regard to selling arms to Azerbaijan by one or another partner, it emphasizes that one can not approach it as merely a transaction, we see it as something that threatens the life of our compatriots, soldiers, civilians.
"So, the arms race in our region is dangerous. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict first of all concerns the security of 150,000 residents. We have done and will do our best to ensure their security," said Zohrab Mnatsakanyan.
The Acting Minister emphasized that no one can question the combat readiness of the Armenian side and its determination to act as a guarantor for the security of these people.
"At the same time, I once again reitrate Armenia’s commitment to the peaceful settlementof the conflict," he said.