RUSSIA HAS NOT SENT ARMS WITHDRAWN FROM GEORGIA TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH: AMBASSADOR
TREND News Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 29 2007
Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend S.Agayeva / Russia does not send its arms
which have been withdrawn from Georgia, to Nagorno-Karabakh, said the
Ambassador of Russia to Azerbaijan, Vasili Istratov, on 29 November
commenting on the information spread in the Azerbaijani media regarding
the placement of Russian armaments in the Azerbaijan territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh and other territories occupied by Armenia.
Earlier the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan stated that part of Russia’s
military equipment withdrawn from Georgia was placed in Azerbaijan’s
occupied territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia placed nearly 70% of
its military equipment, withdrawn from Georgia, in the 102 military
base in the Armenian city of Gurmi. Due to the political situation
between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the placement of Russian military
equipment in Gurmi increases the risks of a war outbreak.
Azerbaijan considers that Russia’s position presents obstacles for
a peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Defense Ministry in
Armenia refuted the statement of the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan
that part of the Russian military equipment, withdrawn from Georgia,
was placed in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Ambassador said that Russia has repeatedly highlighted this at
meetings with the senior officials of Azerbaijan. According to him,
the Russian military equipment which is located in Russia’s military
bases in Armenia cannot be used against Azerbaijan because they are
in hands of the Russian military.