THEME OF RUSSIAN ARMS SUPPLIES FOR ARMENIA IS STILL OPEN FOR OFFICIAL BAKU

Azerbaijan Business Center
Jan 29 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Azerbaijan is still going to keep under control
the issue of alleged supplies of Russian weapons to Armenia.

Khazar Ibrahim, the head of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MFA) press service, claimed that "we received Russian side’s answer
to our inquiry on the occasion, but nevertheless intend to keep this
matter in the centre of attention and I would like to stress that
a fact of transfer of Russian arms to Armenia in 1996 forces us to
do that".

Information about alleged transfer of Russian weapons worth $800
million at Russian military base in Gumri appeared in the Azerbaijani
media. In this connection Russian ambassador Vasily Istratov to
Azerbaijan was invited to the MFA and he was handed over a relevant
note on behalf of Azerbaijani party. The Russian has already replied
to the note, informing of no official arms supplies for Armenia. Then
Istratov expressed bewilderment with further discussion about
"non-existing" supplies.

Milli Majlis (Azerbaijan Parliament) is going to conduct a special
debate on the theme during its spring session to start on 1 February.