ISSUE OF ARMS SUPPLY TO ARMENIA TO BE RAISED AT NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY IF RUSSIA’S EVIDENCE DOES NOT SATISFY AZERBAIJAN: VICE-SPEAKER OF AZERBAIJAN PARLIAMENT

Trend News Agency
Feb 10 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 10/ Trend News E. Rustamov/ The issue on
Russia’s delivery of armaments to Armenia will be raised at the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly if Russia’s evidence does not satisfy the
Azerbaijani side, Vice-Speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament Ziyafet
Askerov briefed the media on Feb. 10.

"If we are not satisfied with Russia’s reply to this issue, we will
raise it at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly," Askerov said.

Some media outlets reported of Russia’s delivery of arms and military
equipment to Armenia from Russian military base 102 in Gumri in early
January. Their approximate cost totals $800 million.

Russia’s ambassador to Azerbaijan Vasili Istratov was invited to
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry to clarify the situation. Later, Russian
Federation’s Ministry of Defence and Foreign Ministry denied media’s
information regarding supplies of Russian arms to Yerevan. However,
Baku is not satisfied with Moscow’s reply. During the telephone
conversation between Foreign Ministers of both countries, they decided
to continue consultations on the issue.

Information on Russia’s delivery of armament to Armenia is a negative
fact, Askerov said.

After the issue was raised at Azerbaijan Parliament, a decision was
made for Azerbaijani delegation to visit Russia to discuss the issue
within Friendship Group, he said.

"We are concerned because Russia is a mediator in the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict settlement. Russia took responsibility not to supply the
conflicting sides with arms unless the conflict is settled, Askerov
said. Russia violated the obligation by supplying arms."

Russia delivered arms to Armenia, totaling $1 billion during governing
of Boris Yeltsin in 1996. So, the present information on Russia’s
delivery of armaments to Armenia worth $800 million looks real.