IMPORTS OF CARTRIDGES FROM ARMENIA
by by Gjergj Erebara

Shekulli
Aug 18 2008
Albania

Until now it was believed that over the past few years Albania had
been selling a section of the stocks of its military armaments which
it inherited from the communist regime. The stocks of cartridges for
Kalashnikovs and other weapons of the Warsaw Treaty standards have
often put Albania on Amnesty International’s list of countries engaged
in unscrupulous arms trading and in selling weapons to countries
placed under embargo.

However, what has been concealed from the public up to now is the
fact that Albania imported military ammunition worth 520,000 euros
(or $713,000) from Armenia during 2007. The reason for importing these
amounts of ammunition remains a complete mystery. All that is known
is that 2007 was a year in which there was intensive trading in arms.

It has also been said that Albania’s stocks of cartridges are
sufficient to supply even the Afghan or Iraqi forces. However, the
latest information indicates that Albania has been active not only
in emptying its depots, but also in playing a transit role in trading
ammunition produced elsewhere.

The cartridges for military use imported from Armenia in 2007
represent the biggest amount of military cartridges ever imported
by our country since 1999. During the Kosova [Kosovo] war in 1999,
Albania imported military ammunition worth 2.1 million euros, all
from Western countries, such as Belgium, Holland, Italy, and Germany.

Multiple connection with Armenia

Last year a ship loaded with cannon shells was stopped by the Turkish
police on the Bosphorous Canal. The ship was transporting shells
purchased in Albania to Armenia. The Albanian Government refused to
publicly admit that it was exporting arms to that country. However,
it also failed to deny this widely publicized piece of news. The
containers with cannon ammunition were turned back to Durres. They
are currently in a nearby base of the Albanian army.

Exports multiplied

Albania has continuously exported military ammunition. However, in
2006 the exports quadrupled over those in 2005 and the figures were
also high last year, amounting to two million euros. The countries
on the map of the Albanian ammunition exports include Afghanistan,
Israel, Argentina, Georgia, Iran, the Christmas Islands, Iceland
(a country with no army), Saudi Arabia, and others. In total, the
value of imports and exports is insignificant. However, the tragedy
in Gerdec and other factors show that the arms trade is a highly
profitable, and that an unscrupulous business has been conducted by
Albanian governments over the years, without thinking much about the
ultimate use of this ammunition.

Albanian ammunition finished

One of many documents made public after the Gerdec tragedy showed that
there were no longer a sufficient number of Kalashnikov cartridges
in the Albanian army depots to deliver to Gerdec, on the basis of
the contract with the US company. This indicates that the Albanian
depots have been emptied of the type of cartridge that was most used
and most produced in Albania during the communist era. The imports of
military cartridges from Armenia were apparently aimed at increasing
stocks to sell them elsewhere.