Armenia advises Azerbaijan against indulging in wishful thinking

September 11, 2015 - 12:53 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Foreign Ministry warned the Azeri Defense Minister against indulging in wishful thinking.

Earlier, Zakir Hasanov commanded to destroy the Armenian aircrafts in case they crossed the border during the military exercises.

“Hasanov is trying to present the Azeri-hosted military exercise scenario as reality. We would advise Hasanov to avoid excessive rhetoric,” an Armenian Foreign Ministry statement reads.

“As for the border flights, the Armenian air force constantly performs training flights throughout the territory of the country.”

Shant-2015 military strategic command and staff exercises were held on September 3-6 in Armenia.

Shant-2015 aimed to recheck the immediate defense preparedness of the State, the mobilization preparedness of the state and military governing bodies for repulsing aggression and the capability to bring to a high degree of readiness and to raise the level of harmony in actions and interactions.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.