ARMENIA’S DEFENSE MINISTRY DENIES REPORTS ON BUYING WEAPONS FROM ALBANIA

armradio.am
26.07.2007 17:05

The Armenian Defense Ministry has denied reports on buying weapons
from Albania. Spokesman for the ministry Seyran Shahsuvaryan said "no
agreements have been reached about delivery of weapons from Albania
to Armenia" and he heard of it for the first time. Leaks in the media,
Shakhsuvaryan said, were another lie.

According to some media, including Gazetashqiptare (Albania), an
Armenian Defense Ministry official got in touch with his colleague
in Albania and ordered a large shipment of weapons including flak of
various calibers varying from 75 mm to 122 mm. After MEIKO Company
having experience in the field was instructed to establish ties with
officials in Armenia in charge and strike a deal. The source also notes
that the Armenian side was supposed to pay for the shipment. However,
Turkish authorities allegedly denied transit to it, and the ship with
60 containers aboard turned back. They in Albania are sure that the
Turkey’s motion was caused by its harsh relations with Yerevan. MEIKO
leadership, in its turn, believes that Albania has nothing to do with
the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, because all selling
procedures were carried out properly and legalized, so, today, the
Albanian side is searching for other routes to deliver the shipment
to Armenia.