RUSSIA ‘DONATES’ $800M ARMS TO ARMENIA

AzerNews Weekly
Jan 14 2009
Azerbaijan

Russia, one of the controversial players in brokering a settlement
to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, has
transferred large quantities of weaponry and military machinery worth
an estimated $800 million to Armenia, reports say.

There were 69 types of arms included in a list acquired by Azerbaijan`s
Mediaforum news website that were handed over to the Armenian Defense
Ministry from Russia`s military base in Gumri, Armenia. The transfer
was carried out in 2008 and signed for by Lieut.-Gen. Vyacheslav
Golovchenko, deputy commander for armaments in the Northern Caucasus
Military County.

The weapons includes 21 tanks, 12 armored vehicles, five other battle
machines, a great number of rocket launchers, over 1,050 cases of
grenades, nearly 7,900 types of ammunition, 120 grenade launchers,
over 4,000 sub-machine guns, TNT fuses, mines of various types, 14
mine-launchers, 9 Grad launchers, five canons, and additional weapons.

The Russian ambassador in Baku Vasiliy Istratov has been called to
Azerbaijan`s Foreign Ministry over the reports on the arms transfer.

Istratov said the ministry had sought his clarification on the
issue. While saying "a very constructive exchange of views" had been
carried out, he stressed that he was unaware of the arms delivery.

"I have learnt about the matter communicated to me only from the
media. I cannot refer to any other sources that would either confirm or
refute this. As an official, I am stating that I had no information
about the transfer of arms. But, as I promised to the minister,
I will look into whether or not these reports are true or false."

Baku`s concern over the arms transfer has apparently not stopped
Moscow from delivering weapons. Armenia`s Hayastan TV channel reported
that Russia intends to additionally transfer S-125 and Pechora-2M
rocket-launchers to the air defense forces of the country`s Defense
Ministry soon.

The Azerbaijan Defense Ministry has said it was aware of the issue,
but it is yet to be studied. Its spokesman, Eldar Sabiroghlu, said
the ministry would state its position on the matter after the scrutiny
is completed.

Russia supplied $1 billion worth of arms and ammunition to Armenia in
1996. Moscow had long refused to recognize the transfer but eventually
acknowledged it. However, this did not lead to the halt in Russian
armament flowing to Armenia.

Since 1996, Russia has been, from time to time, providing certain
amounts of arms to the Armenian military.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for over a
decade. However, peace talks began after a lengthy war that ended with
the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but have brought few tangible
results. Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other
Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law.

Aydin Mirzazada, deputy chairman of Azerbaijan`s parliamentary
commission on security and defense issues, has said the arms transfer
could be described only as an international row.

"One of the warring countries is being provided, free of charge,
various ammunition to the tune of $800m. Given that Armenia`s annual
military budget currently constitutes $400m, this country is turning
into a huge military store house."

Mirzazada said that since Russia is one of the co-chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group [a team of diplomats also including the United States
and France] which is obliged to mediate a peaceful settlement to
the Garabagh conflict, the Russian position is astonishing. "It is
absolutely unclear to the Azerbaijani public for what purpose this
is being done and which [principles of] international law these
actions are based upon. "Russia must carry out mediation and adhere
to a fair stance which dwells upon the return of 20% of Azerbaijan`s
Armenia-occupied territory," Mirzazada said.

The lawmaker went on to say that Moscow should be interested in
demilitarizing the region.

"Instead, we are witnessing that our strategic ally is handing over
arms worth a large amount to the invader. The target of this armament
is clear – Azerbaijan, capturing new territories and destabilizing
the region. We would like to get a clear-cut response from Russia to
that end."

"Certainly, Armenia is buying arms from Russia, as much as it
is permitted, but the transfer of such a tremendous quantity of
weapons to this country cannot but affect the overall situation in
the region. We demand that these arms be returned and for Armenia to
be demilitarized."

According to Mirzazada, the latest arms transfer runs counter to the
November 2 declaration on a political Garabagh settlement co-signed
by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. It remains to be guessed
whether Moscow`s latest actions stem from defying the declaration by
certain Russian circles or represent a provocation against President
Medvedev. But, in any case, those responsible for this provocation
have to be named and punished, according to officials.