On the 20th anniversary marking the formation of Armenia’s armed forces, Armenia’s former Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Defense Minister and current member of Social Democrat Hunchakian Party Central Committee Vahan Shirkhanyan, advised the Armenian government and armed forces carry out an enhancement of combat facilities, including not only an increase in arms as well as improved training of soldiers and officers in the near future.
While Mr. Shirkhanyan believes that Azerbaijan’s attempt to enlarge its military will not create a situation in which it has an advantage over Armenian forces, it is his belief that without the intervention of larger states a military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a possibility and Armenia’s armed forced should be prepared for all contingencies to safe guard its population and territory.