Azeri official criticizes Russia for moving hardware from Georgia to Armenia

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
4 Aug 05

[Presenter] Moscow today started transferring part of its military
hardware from Georgia to its Gyumri military base in Armenia.
[Azerbaijani] Deputy Foreign Minister Xalaf Xalafov has said that this
is a threat to the region and that Russia is disrupting stability in
the region with its step. Xalafov also criticized the OSCE’s loyal
attitude to steps that pose a threat to the region.

[Correspondent, over video of Xalafov] The deployment of military
hardware and ammunition withdrawn from Georgia at the Gyumri base
in Armenia is a threat to stability in the region. Having said this,
Xalafov said that Russia’s step should worry not only Baku, but also
all regional states.

[Xalafov] Of course, the deployment of military bases in an aggressive
country like Armenia does not serve security and stability in the
region. It does not strengthen stability, on the contrary, makes these
issues even more tense and complicated. We have already expressed our
opinion about this and will express it in the future. I think it is an
issue that concerns not only Azerbaijani-Armenian-Russian relations,
but also all regional relations.

[Correspondent] The deputy minister also said that the Kremlin had
informed Azerbaijan that military hardware, weapons and munitions
will be sent to Armenia. They even guaranteed that these weapons will
never be used against our country.

[Xalafov] The Russian side has officially told us at various levels
that these weapons, hardware, equipment and forces will be sent to
Russian military bases in Armenia. This does not mean that these
forces will be handed over to Armenia. They told us about this and
confirmed this. They gave us guarantees that this will be the case.

[Correspondent] At the same time, Xalafov thinks that the issue
of deploying bases in Armenia should be solved both by Russia and
Azerbaijan and by OSCE member states. Otherwise, this organization,
which ensures regional supervision, will have to bear responsibility
for the security of the region.

[Xalafov] There is an OSCE agreement on the balance of weapons in
this region and there are agreements on applying it. Of course,
we should look at these issues in this context and the balance
should not disrupted. The balance has been disrupted anyway. The
balance has been disrupted to such an extent that one country of
the region has invaded another country and keeps 20 per cent of its
territory under occupation. The OSCE should deal with this issue in
the future. The OSCE bears direct responsibility for solving this
issue in a peaceful way.

[Correspondent] The deputy minister said that instead of preventing
these factors in regional security issues, the OSCE is creating
conditions for this.

[Passage omitted: Details of Russian military hardware sent to Armenia]