David Jamalyan: Azerbaijan trying to justify huge defense expenses

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia and Iran are enjoying good political relations, although economic ties need to be strengthened, an Armenian expert said.

“Due to the blockade imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey, Iran has a strategic importance for Armenia,” Yervand Bozoyan told a news conference in Yerevan on October 11.

For his part, military expert at the Armenian Public Council, David Jamalyan, noted that construction of Iran-Armenia railroad will let Armenia withstand the Turkish and Azerbaijani pressure and take a stronger hold on the Karabakh issue.

As to the killing of Armenian captive Manvel Saribekyan, he said Baku just tries to justify huge defense expenses. “Azerbaijan wants show it has a strong army,” Jamalyan said.

Commenting on the incident , Bozoyan for his part said Armenia failed to react to the murder properly.

“The reaction must have been tougher to reach the international community,” he said. “Should a similar incident take place in Armenia, the OSCE Minsk Group, under pressure of Azerbaijan, could even send a note to Yerevan.”