Azerbaijan urges Russia to give up plans to relocate arms to Armenia

Azartac news agency, Baku
23 May 05

[No dateline, as received] The charge d’affaires of the Russian
Federation in Azerbaijan, Petr Burdykin, was invited to the
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry on 23 May.

The Foreign Ministry press service has told Azartac that Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov expressed the Azerbaijani side’s
concern over the statements by a number of Russian military and
political officials, including the chief of the Russian General Staff,
Gen Yuriy Baluyevskiy, that Russia intends to relocate a portion of
its military property and hardware from Georgia to Armenia.

A corresponding diplomatic note was handed to Burdykin.

The document says that such a course of developments would not serve
the interests of peace and stability in the region and would lead to
further exacerbation of tension in the already strained relations
between Armenia and Azerbaijan at a time when efforts are being made
little by little to achieve much awaited progress in negotiations.

The Azerbaijani side is hopeful that the Russian Federation will give
up its intention to send a part of its property and military equipment
to Armenia. By doing so, Russia will contribute to regional security
and stability and confirm its interest in the traditionally friendly,
amicable and neighbourly relationship with Azerbaijan.