Azerbaijan asks Russia to clarify arms redeployment to Armenia – minister
Trend news agency
3 Jun 05
Baku, 3 June: Baku has asked the Russian side to provide comprehensible
information about the redeployment of military equipment from the
Russian bases in Georgia on the territory of Armenia, Trend has
quoted Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov as telling
journalists today.
Mammadyarov said he had asked the charge d’affaires of the Russian
Federation in Azerbaijan, Petr Burdykin, to provide more information
about what the redeployment might result in.
“Let’s wait and see. Talks between Russia and Georgia to that effect
are still under way,” the minister said.
He said he himself had found out about the stationing of a part of this
equipment on the territory of the Russian base in Armenia only from the
press, and added that there is no official information about that yet.
“Official representatives of Russia are to give us an official
response,” Mammadyarov said.
Mammadyarov went on to say that by relocating a part of its military
equipment from Georgia to its military base in Armenia, Russia does
not violate the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty.
“This is not a violation of the treaty because the arms are stationed
on the territory of a Russian base, not transferred to Armenia. We look
at this issue differently: the redeployment of arms is a wrong step
because there is a conflict in the region, and we need demilitarization
more than militarization,” Mammadyarov said.
He went on to say that he had discussed the issue with Georgian
counterpart Salome Zourabichvili and she informed the Russian side
about Azerbaijan’s concern.
“We have to wait and see what an agreement will be signed, and
this depends not only on Azerbaijan or Russia, but also on the
Russian-Georgian talks,” the minister said.