AZERBAIJAN SLAMS RUSSIA OVER ALLEGED ARMENIAN ARMS SUPPLIES

EasyBourse.com
Jan 15 2009
France

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AFP)–Azerbaijan Thursday made a "strong protest"
to Russia over weapons transfers it said Moscow had made to Armenia
in violation of U.N. resolutions.

"The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry voices strong protest in connection
with the transfer of arms to Armenia and calls on Russia to take
all necessary steps to avert the consequences," the ministry said in
a statement.

Wednesday Russia’s Defense Ministry denied Azerbaijani media reports
that Moscow had supplied Yerevan with $800 million )-worth of tanks,
armored personnel carriers, rockets, grenade launchers and ammunition
via a Russian army base in Armenia, Interfax news agency reported.

"There have been no supplies of Russian weapons to Armenia. The reports
alleging this are untrue," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Alexander
Drobyshevsky said.

Azerbaijan said the alleged weapons transfers violated U.N. resolutions
aimed at preventing a renewal of the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh,
where Armenia-backed separatists wrested control from Azerbaijan’s
authorities in a war after the 1991 Soviet collapse.

"The transfer of weapons serves to strengthen the military potential
of Armenia, which has occupied a part of Azerbaijani territory,"
the Azerbaijani ministry said.

Azerbaijan and Armenia still periodically exchange fire around Nagorno
Karabakh causing casualties on both sides.