2.8 From the perspective of regional security, we are concerned about the possibility of deepening discord between military-political alliances, and the member states they are composed of, that impact the South Caucasus region. Equally concerning is the potential weakening of those alliances and the specter of hostility among such states, that could harm Armenia’s interests. Particularly, the sale of arms to Azerbaijan further jeopardizes regional peace and stability. Our attention is also focused on possible political and military instability in neighboring states. 2.9 Turkey’s policy towards Armenia is unneighborly. It continues its blockade of Armenia, refusing to establish diplomatic relations without preconditions, denying and, in certain instances, justifying the Armenian Genocide. Armenia is also concerned about a weakening commitment to democracy and human rights in the region and in the world. 2.10 At the same time, Turkey’s military-political assistance to Azerbaijan further strengthens the latter’s aspirations to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by military means. Turkey’s readiness for covert or overt intervention in the case of Azerbaijani-initiated military actions is particularly problematic. 2.11 Turkey’s unlawful use of force against its neighboring states and nations in turn jeopardizes the stability of the broader region, and increases the unpredictability of its possible actions against Armenia. 2.12 The decline of democracy and human rights in Turkey and Azerbaijan has a detrimental impact on their compliance with their international commitments, increasing the unpredictability of these countries for Armenia. 2.13 Armenia’s security environment is also affected by processes underway in the Middle East, which include, in particular, the expulsion of religious and ethnic minorities, the consolidation and spread of religious radicalism, internal conflicts, wars of attrition, and non-traditional and proxy warfare. 2.14 Terrorism and transnational organized crime, the transit and dissemination of weapons of mass destruction, drug trafficking, money laundering, illegal migration and human trafficking also pose threats to Armenia. 2.15 Domestic threats include current demographic trends negatively impacting Armenia’s security and its sustainable social and economic development. A decline in the birth rate, emigration, transformation of the population’s age structure, and uneven economic development pose substantial challenges and threats to Armenia, particularly in the form of brain drain, a reduced workforce, and an increasing burden on the social security system. 2.16 The increasing penetration of information communication technologies (ICTs) into every aspect of society has resulted in both opportunities and challenges. Concurrently with the development of the ICT sector, the security of the individual, society, and the state has become more vulnerable, and therefore needs protection in both the information and cyber domains. 6 | NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY OF RA