ARMENIAN MILITARIZATION CONTINUES: YEREVAN BUYS AIRPLANES
Journal of Turkish weekly
Sept 27 2005
YEREVAN – Deputy Defense Minister Artur Aghabekian on Saturday
confirmed reports that Armenia purchased ten Russian-made military
aircraft from Slovakia last year, significantly boosting its air
force, Emil Danielyan from RFE/RL reported yesterday. Aghabekian said
`They are fully capable of performing combat tasks. The new aircraft
enhanced our military potential.’
Aghabekian declined to disclose the cost of the aircraft purchase.
He also insisted that the Su-25s are not outdated despite having been
used by the Slovak military for over a decade.
Armenian forces have occupied almost 20 percent of Azerbaijani
territories and Armenia seeks to strengthen its army in case Azerbaijan
attempts to recapture the occupied territories. Armenia has thorny
relations with other neighbors Turkey and Georgia.