In a show of support to its main military ally, Armenia yesterday condemned Turkey who shot down a Russian military aircraft. She added that it undermines international efforts to fight against terrorist groups operating in Syria.

Ohanian, Minister of Defence, at the same time urged the international community to prevent a further escalation of Russian-Turkish tensions. Analysts say it would be dangerous for the security in Armenia.

“I think, at a time when the international community focused on the fight against international terrorism, this may be experienced as a direct blow in the direction of these efforts,” said Ohanian in what was the first Armenian reaction the incident on Tuesday near the Syrian-Turkish border.

Russian Su-24 bomber was shot by a Turkish F-16 fighter after attacking rebel forces in a Syrian area north of the Turkish border. Ankara insists that the warplane was destroyed because he had violated the airspace of Turkey, a claim strongly denied by Moscow.

Speaking a few hours after the incident, Russian President Vladimir Putin has described as a “stab in the back” led by “accomplices of terrorists” and warned that it would have “serious consequences” for Russia Relations -turques.

The incident and ensuing recriminations raised concerns about the fact that Armenia, which hosts a Russian military base deployed along its closed border with Turkey, can be drawn into a potential military confrontation between the two powers regional. Some Russian politicians and pro-government experts have called the Kremlin to strengthen this base with more advanced weapons.

The base is already equipped with 18 MiG-29 fighter jets, a similar number of attack helicopters and air defense systems S-300. A security threat because Turkey has long been the main official reason for the Russian military presence in Armenia.

According to the authority of the Civil Aviation of Armenia, the Turkish military helicopters violated the airspace of Armenia twice early October, just days after Ankara accused Russian aircraft of straying on Turkish territory Syria. Yerevan has chosen not to protest official.

Ohanian did not say if the units of the Armenian army near the border with Turkey and the Russian troops stationed in Armenia have been put on alert. “We have a business planning joint struggle with Russia and our actions we perform together as part of this planning,” he only said, remaining vague.

“We are a strategic partner of the Russian Federation,” said Ohanian. “I think we should wait and see how it evolves. World leaders will then take the appropriate decisions. “

“I think the international community must now also make efforts to prevent escalation,” he added at a joint press conference with Serbian Minister of Defence, Bratislav Gasic.

The Armenian government has been very critical à-vis the role of Turkey in the Syrian civil war. He pointed to Ankara after the Islamist rebels, including members of al-Qaeda Al Nosra Front, captured the Syrian city populated by Armenians, Kessab, and moved its 2000 inhabitants in March 2014.