HAZAR IBRAGIM: ESTABLISHMENT OF STRATEGIC RESPONSE COLLECTIVE FORCES HAS NO EFFECT ON AZERBAIJAN’S DETERMINATION TO LIBERATE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
by Rizvan Guseinov
WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
February 18, 2009 Wednesday
Russia
Question: The question of Russian arms export to Armenia remains open
even now. Has the Foreign Ministry been keeping an eye on the processes
that will either verify or deny the existence of this arms export?
Hazar Ibragim: These actions collide with international law because
weapons go to a country that occupied part of the territory of
another state.
Question: Is there any threat to the region and Azerbaijan posed
by the stated plans to establish the Strategic Response Collective
Forces? Armenia is a member of the CIS Collective Security Treaty
Organization, and the establishment of this structure all but means
additional guarantees of Russian assistance to Armenia…
Hazar Ibragim: Azerbaijan is not a member of the CIS Collective
Security Treaty Organization. Baku has always been against the
advancement of military-political contacts with organizations such
as this. Azerbaijan has always been against the confrontation and
deterioration of the situation as a corollary of membership in a
military alliance. On the other hand, Armenia the aggressor is a
member of the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization. Azerbaijan
sincerely hopes that the establishment of the Strategic Response
Collective Forces is not going to boost Yerevan’s aggressiveness.
Question: Are you saying that Armenia’s participation in the Strategic
Response Collective Forces will have no effect on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and ways of its settlement?
Hazar Ibragim: Should the military-technical potential of Armenia be
boosted and efforts to use it against Azerbaijan follow, it will have
a negative effect on the Nagorno-Karabakh talks. As for Azerbaijan,
it is determined to restore its territorial integrity and liberate the
occupied lands. Whatever military operations may take place to this
end, they will be taking place on the territory of Azerbaijan. In other
words, no treaties between Russia and Armenia within the framework
of the Strategic Response Collective Forces will have any effect on
Azerbaijan’s resolve to restore its sovereignty.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress