Agence France Presse — English
January 15, 2009 Thursday 2:45 PM GMT

Azerbaijan slams Russia over alleged Armenia arms supplies

BAKU, Jan 15 2009

Ex-Soviet Azerbaijan on Thursday made a "strong protest" to Russia
over weapons transfers it said Moscow had made to Armenia in violation
of United Nations 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.

On Wednesday Russia’s defence ministry denied Azerbaijani media
reports that Moscow had supplied Yerevan with 800 million dollars (610
million euros)-worth of tanks, armoured 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 UN resolutions
aimed at preventing a renewal of the conflict over Nagorny 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 Nagorny
Karabakh causing casualties on both sides.

Russia is a close ally of Armenia’s and its military base in Armenia
represents a significant outpost in the volatile South Caucasus, while
Azerbaijan has ties to the United States and has supported its
operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.