SERBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: BELGRADE SHOULD NOT SELL ARMS TO ARMENIA
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 10 2006
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic criticized arm selling to
Armenia, APA reports. The minister noted that the steps taken by
President Tadic are contrary to Prime Minister Voislav Kostunica’s
opinion.
"To sell arms to Armenia is Serbia government’s business. We only
provide a political opinion, and that opinion has not changed from the
outset. We have long declared that the OSCE has imposed an arms embargo
on Armenia and Azerbaijan because of the conflict in Nagorni-Karabakh
and that there is an instructive Resolution 8153 by the UN Security
Council that requires all countries to refrain from supplying "any
arms or ammunition to Armenia or Azerbaijan."
underlined Draskovic. The minister also noted that, US has a decision
on banning cooperation with the country that violates embargo law.
"Kraguevache plant gets $20m profit from arm selling to the U.S. That
is why by selling arm cost $2m we put our profit under risk. On the
other hand the government should compensate the losses" he said.
The minister said that if the president agrees to sell armaments to
Armenia, he would have give explanation to UN and OSCE because of
violation of resolutions and embargo law.