VLADIMIR TIMOSHENKO: "THE FACT THAT ARMENIA HAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF ARMS BY NO WAY GUARANTEES ITS SUCCESS IN WAR"

Today.Az
ics/50048.html
Jan 12 2009
Azerbaijan

Russia will never make an official statement about the new illegal
delivery of arms in the amount of $800,000,000 to Armenia, said
military expert Vladimir Timoshenko.

According to him, only international inspectors can hold an
investigation, referring to a contract on limitation of ordinary arms
in the flanks, according to which there are restrictions for Armenia
and Azerbaijan, which they have no right to violate.

"Moreover, Russia’s decision to withdraw arms from Georgia to Armenia
should not be surprising. To dislocate a part of them in Armenia
is easier for Russia than to transport them back to Russia. This is
natural and this was known before", said he.

He confirmed that there is a need for the international investigation
of the delivery fact, which however can be investigated only by
international structures.

Speaking about the importance to challenge Russia’s role as an
unbiased mediator in the Karabakh conflict resolution, considering
the strengthened supply of arms by this country to one of the conflict
parties, he said there are grounds for raising such issues.

"But I also stress that Russia is not interested in the resolution
of this conflict. Official Moscow even avoids statements in support
of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, preferring phrases like
"Negotiation yourself and we will support this agreement".

Any issue can be raised theoretically… But no practical steps will
be taken", noted Timoshenko.

He said the intensive armament of Armenia may break the balance,
but it should be taken into account that not only technical factor
plays a role here, among which he listed the preparation level of the
personal staff, moral spirit, tactics and strategy of conduction of
hostilities and so on.

"Many factors play a role here. Therefore, the fact that Armenia has
a large amount of arms by no way guarantees its success in war".