In response to a statement made yesterday by a senior Armenian army official that Yerevan is capable of launching missiles against a potential enemy within a range of 300 kilometres and more, a spokesman for Azerbaijani’s Defense Ministry claimed that Baku could strike any strategic facility in Armenia.

Major-General Artak Davtyan, who heads the Operations Department of the General Headquarters of the Armenian Armed Forces, told reporters yesterday that such missle attack scenarios were included in recent strategic command exercises in Armenia.

Today, according to the APA news service, Colonel Eldar Sabiroglu, spokesman of Azerbaijani’s Defense Ministry, commented that Davtyan’s words were empty posturing.

“The enemy should understand that the new missile systems of Azerbaijani Armed Forces can strike any strategic facility of Armenia. Azerbaijan’s development, achievements and increase of defence expenditures have pushed Armenia into desperate situation. Therefore, making such statement, they are trying to reduce the protests of the Armenian people. This is the main aim of the threat,” Sabiroglu is reported to have said.