DayAz.org, Azerbaijan
Nov 30 2007

AZERI DEFENCE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN DENIES CFE TREATY VIOLATION

The press secretary of the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry has denied
reports that Azerbaijan violates its quotas under the Conventional
Armed Forces in Europe Treaty.

"Armenia, which is an aggressor country, has been accusing us of this
for several years. But Azerbaijan has not violated limits so far,"
Interfax quoted Eldar Sabiroglu as saying on 29 November.

He said that Armenia itself was arming and hinted that Russia is
helping it. "Armenians are arming and everyone knows what country is
arming them." Day.az quoted Sabiroglu as saying.

"We have not forgotten what the 366th regiment [the Soviet army]
committed. We also have not forgotten what country gave Armenia arms
worth 1bn dollars," he said.

Azerbaijan says that the 366th regiment was involved in the massacre
of Azerbaijanis in Xocali town in Nagornyy Karabakh in February 1992.

Sabiroglu added that the Armenian side had lost about 10 soldiers in
cease-fire violations in the past months. The Azerbaijani army lost
45 soldiers in 2007 following cease-fire violations, disease and
accidents, Day.az quoted him as saying.