Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 14
By Ilhama Isabalayeva – Trend:
Russia’s providing a loan to Armenia for a period of 20 years for the purchase of modern weapons aims to arm this country, Azerbaijani MP Aydin Mirzazade has told Trend.
In late 2015, Russia and Armenia agreed on allocation of a $ 200 million loan to Armenia for the purchase of modern weapons. The Armenian government approved the first $100 million loan package Oct. 12, 2017.
Under the agreement, a $100-million loan will be extended to Armenia for 20 years.
“Today Armenia has a very poor economy, and it is difficult for the country to replenish the budget. The purpose of giving a loan for a period of 20 years is to arm Armenia. I believe that taking this decision prior to the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents is not the right step,” Mirzazade said.
He believes that $100 million is a rather small amount for the country at war.
“The reality is that Armenia is still dependent on foreign countries. Armenia's policy cannot bring it any strength, influence or capital,” he said.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s independent foreign policy is aimed at its strengthening as a state and its becoming a participant of the project important for the region, Mirzazade added.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.