TURKEY DENIES TRANSIT TO ALBANIAN ARMS SHIPMENT BOUND FOR ARMENIA
Report by Artur Korriku: "Berisha: Arms Trade With Armenia, Turkey Blocks Consignment" – subslug as received
Gazeta Shqiptare, Tirana
18 Jul 07
Turkish authorities have refused transit to a sizeable consignment
of Albanian weapons and ammunition bound for Armenia. They forced an
Albanian ship to sail back with its cargo. One of our naval vessels
loaded with containers full of weapons, mainly heavy artillery and
ammunition, was berthed at Durres port. The ship had sailed from Durres
to Istanbul, loaded with 60 containers of heavy artillery and shells,
destined for Armenia.
Sale
Several days earlier, a representative of the Armenian Defence
Ministry had contacted his counterpart at the Albanian Defence
Ministry and ordered a large consignment of field and anti-aircraft
artillery of various calibers, ranging from 75-mm to 122-mm together
with shells. The Albanian Defence Ministry had appointed the MEIKO
company to fill the order, since it had some experience in this
business. MEIKO has been known in the arms trade ever since Safet
Zhulali headed the Albanian Defence Ministry.
Blockage
MEIKO contacted the relevant officials in Armenia and clinched
the deal.
After everything seemed to be proceeding fine, a sudden obstacle
arose in Turkey, which did not allow the ship to sail through the
Straits and turned it back. Subsequently, the arms were unloaded in
the stores of the Albanian Army. The official reason that Turkey has
given for refusing transit to our ship is still unknown, as is the
price that Armenia was to pay for the shipment.
Armenia
Armenia, formerly part of the Soviet Union, is interested in the arms
being offered by this country, as they are the same as those at the
disposal of the other east European countries in terms of calibers. The
Armenian Army is in need for more artillery ammunition, as its supplies
have been interrupted because of political developments. However,
the transaction fell through because Turkey did not allow our ship
loaded with arms to sail through the Straits.