TURKEY DENIES TRANSIT TO ALBANIAN ARMS SHIPMENT BOUND FOR ARMENIA

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 26 2007

Turkish authorities forced Albanian ship loaded with arms to sail
back. Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said official Ankara did
not allow the ship to sail through the Straits and turned it back,
APA reports.

"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".

MEIKO company director stated that Albania is not interfering with
the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. "Albania sold arm to
Armenia according to the law and followed all legal procedures".

Several days earlier, a representative of the Armenian Defense
Ministry had contacted his counterpart at the Albanian Defense
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 Defense 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 Defense Ministry.