ZIYAFET ASGAROV: "IF RUSSIA’S INVESTIGATION DOES NOT SATISFY US, ARM-SHIPMENT TO ARMENIA WILL BE DISCUSSED IN NATO PA"

APA
Feb 10 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Ramil Mammadli-APA. "Azerbaijan’s relations with NATO are at the
level of normal cooperation", Ziyafet Asgarov, First Deputy Chairman
of Milli Majlis told journalists, APA reports. Asgarov said he had no
information about the agenda of spring session of NATO Parliamentary
Assembly, but added that Azerbaijani delegation would traditionally
bring up a point about Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Touching upon the issue on Russia’s selling weapons to Armenia, the
First Deputy Chairman of Milli Majlis stated that certain discussions
had been conducted at the Parliament in this respect. "It was decided
to discuss the issue within the framework of intergovernmental
friendship groups and to send a delegation consisting of Azerbaijani
parliamentarians to Russian Duma. We will take our stance only after
the discussions and Russia’s investigations. If Russia’s investigation
does not satisfy us, arm-shipment to Armenia will be discussed in
NATO Parliamentary Assembly. We are very concerned about this issue,
because Russia is a mediator in regulation to Nagorno Karabagh
conflict. Russia has undertaken commitment not to sell weapons to
none of these conflict parties until the solution of problem".

Speaking about Azerbaijani Army’s coordination to NATO standards,
Asgarov emphasized that the initial phase of works carried out in
this direction had already been concluded. The works on the second
phase will commence soon.