IN LATE 2008 RUSSIA DELIVERED TO ARMENIA ARMS IN THE AMOUNT OF $800 MLN
Today.Az
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Jan 9 2009
Azerbaijan
Day.Az has asked some questions on this topic among some deputies of
Milli Medjlis of Azerbaijan:
Deputy chairman of the parliamentary commission on issues of defense
and security Aydin Mirzazade:
"It can be featured only as international scandal. One of the conflict
parties is supplied with different weapons in the amount of about
$800,000,000. Considering the fact that currently the annual military
budget of Armenia makes $400,000,000 is turning into a large military
storehouse.
At the same time considering the fact that Russia is one of the
co-chairs of the OSCR Minsk Group, which is bound to mediate in the
peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict, the position of our
northern neighbor is surprising. It is unclear to the Azerbaijani
community, why it is done so and what international law is takaen
as a basis. Russia must mediate and adhere to a just position, which
implies the return of 20% of Armenian occupied lands to Azerbaijan.
Russia must be interested in the demilitarization of this region. But
instead of it we see that our strategic ally supplies the occupant with
weapons in the large amount. The aim of this armament is clear – it is
Azerbaijan, occupation of new lands, destabilization of the situation
in the region. We would like to get a clear response from Russia.
It is clear that Armenia purchases weapons from Russia. But its
supply with such a great volume of arms can affect the situation
in the region. We demand the return of these arms and Armenia’s
demilitarization.
This contradicts to the Moscow declaration, undersigned by the
President of Russia. What is that? The protest against the Moscow
declaration by some circles of Russia or provocation against the
Russian President? Anyway, those responsible for these provocation
must be found, their names made public and they must be punished".
Deputy Zahid Oruc:
"I think Russia’s actions contradict to international documents it
joins it. Though they try to explain their actions as being legal in
the framework of the CSTO with Armenia, anyway, this is a violation
of international norms.
Russia’s policy on Armenia’s militarization can be qualified the lack
of Russia’s interest in the peaceful resolution of the conflicts
in the South Caucasus. This allows other geopolitical plays to
undertake adequate steps. Russia’s such actions make possible the
access of military circles from other countries to our region, as any
country will try to restore the violated military balance by other
alternative ways.
Therefore, Azerbaijan and Georgia can search other variants of their
security and try to distance from Georgia. This is not the first time
when Georgia supplies Armenia with arms in a significant amount free
of charge. In the 1990s late general Lev Rokhlin revealed the free
supply of arms in the amount of $ 1 bln to Armenia. I think Ryussia
must respond about its actions as they damage their mediation activity
on the peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict".
Deputy Asim Mollazade:
"It should be reminded that the issue of supply of arms in a greater
amount of money from Russia to Armenia was discussed in the 1990s. Now
they have transferred arms in the amount of $800,000,000, which proves
that the aggressor is armed and therefore, less arms is supplied. I
think that Azerbaijan must draw attention of the world community
and international organizations so that to make it clear who is an
aggressor and who is behind it all".
Deputy Jamil Hasanly:
"This fact can not be a surprize for us. I think that the country,
which supplies Armenia with arms in the amount of $800 mln to Armenia,
has no moral right to be one of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group".
Deputy Gudrat Hasaquliyev:
"This fact proves once again that Russia continue to supply arms to the
CIS state, which has been occupying a part of another CID country. This
is another fact proving that earlier Russia acted the same way.
This proves that Russia does not support friendly relations with
Azerbaijan, as it says, unilaterally supports Armenia and is not
interested in the fair resolution of the Karabakh conflict. I think
the Azerbaijani government must raise this issue in UN, OSCE, in
particular in the OSCE Minsk Group".
It should be noted that due to the New Year vacations in the Russian
embassy to Azerbaijan, Day.Az did not manage to learn comments of
the Russian side about this issue.