YEREVAN DENIES PURCHASING ARMS FROM ALBANIA
By M. Alkhazashvili, translated by Diana Dundua

The Messenger, Georgia
Aug 1 2007

The Azerbaijani foreign affairs minister fired off a salvo of
letters to his Albanian counterpart, his Pakistani counterpart, and
the secretary general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference,
criticizing a purported Albanian arms shipment to Armenia, which was
reportedly turned away from a Turkish port.

According to the news agency Regnum, Azerbaijani Foreign Affairs
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov wrote about the Armenian capture of
Nagorno-Karabakh, saying that more than 800 000 ethnic Azeris had been
forced from their homes. The Organization of the Islamic Conference
decreed that its member states-which include Albania and Turkey-not
give any military assistance or weapons to Armenia, Mammadyarov
wrote. Nor should member states allow transit of weapons bound for
Armenia on their territory, as the "Armenian conquerors are not to
be allowed to continue the occupation and widen the conflict."

Baku said it considers the weapons shipment an action against
Azerbaijan. Mammadyarov requested that his Albanian counterpart step
in and personally see to it that the arms contract is cancelled,
Regnum writes.

The Armenian defense ministry, however, categorically denied the
reports. They are not buying any weapons from Albania, they said,
accusing Baku of making strident statements.

At the same time, Regnum reported that Azerbaijan is intending to
buy weapons from Belarus. A minister there announced the possible
sale July 30, saying he would be meeting with Azerbaijani officials
soon to talk about the deal.