Armenian Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan has confirmed Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan's statement about Yerevan's unprecedented purchases of arms for the past three years, Novosti-Armenia reported.
"We have purchased much more weapons for the past three years than in previous years," Ohanian told reporters. "The Prime Minister is correct and we will continue this process."
"We are particularly interested in the purchase of anti-aircraft systems and long range weapons which give the opportunity to strike at an enemy's important targets," he said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.