Instability can have negative impact in transition to war footing in case of Karabakh escalation - Armenian Defense Ministry
YEREVAN. April 22 (Interfax) - The Armenian army can tackle any adversary's encroachments, but further escalation of internal tensions can have a negative impact on executing defense tasks in case of Karabakh crisis escalation, the Armenian Defense Ministry said.
The Azerbaijani military and political leadership view internal political events in Armenia as a tangible factor for "launching a new military provocation against the Republic of Artsakh [the unrecognized Nagorno Karabakh Republic]," the Armenian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
"Further escalation of the situation is prompting this. The attempts at seizing power, paralyzing state bodies' work, blocking transport routes will inevitably lead to escalating military challenges," the Armenian Defense Ministry said.
A steady and interrelated work of all state bodies is needed to ensure the country's defense, the defense ministry said.
"The Armenian army doubtlessly can counter any adversary's encroachments. However, evolving internal instability is a factor, which under undesirable developments can have only a negative impact on executing defense tasks, the transfer of the country from a peacetime to a wartime posture," the statement said.
The Armenian Defense Ministry board is urging participants of mass protests to avoid any steps, which can cause internal instability.