Russia’s loan aims at arming Armenia: MP
By 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.