Baku wants clarification for Armenia's illegal armament
By Laman Sadigova
Arms sale to Armenia, which is in a state of war with Azerbaijan upon keeping 20 percent of the neighboring country under occupation, raised many concerns.
The social networks have spread information about that Armenian soldiers using sniper rifles "PGM Mini-Hecate" and "Arctic Warfare.338LM" made in France and the UK.
Armament of the post Soviet nation known for its aggressive policy in the region in fact controverts the international law and these countries-exporters cannot be in the dark about the purposes for which Armenia needs these weapons. By this way Armenia maintains its occupation of the Azerbaijani lands and shelling of peaceful settlements on the frontline.
France, which is the member of the OSCE Minsk Group, dealing with solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, should be doubly concerned about this information and take measures for its explanation.
Moreover, the Arms Trade Treaty prohibits weapon selling if it violates the measures taken by the UN Security Council or break the international obligations of States under international agreements.
Armenia has rejected to fulfill four UN Security Council resolutions on unconditional withdrawal from the occupied lands of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has expressed its concerns over arms sale to Armenia in large quantities.
Hikmat Hajiyev, the spokesperson of the ministry, said that exercising and increasing the combat readiness of the personnel using these sniper rifles suggest that these rifles were imported to Armenia in large quantities and taken into service.
"Initially it was said that Armenia received only two sniper rifles Arctic Warfare.338LM for test purposes. But the massive use of these weapons in the military forces of Armenia proves the opposite.”
The Armenian Armed Forces' use of sniper rifles made in France and the UK is a major concern. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry made a appeal on April 25, 2015 in connection with the supply of such weapons to Armenia by producing countries, but no clarification has followed so far.
Hajiyev also said that France and the United Kingdom declare that they had complied with the conditions of the OSCE in respect of the arms embargo on Armenia and Azerbaijan. "At the same time within the European Union there is a strict regime of weapons export control. Arms delivery to Armenia via third people raises questions. According to the export control regime, during operations on export-import of military weapons exporter must require the end-user certificate (end-user certificate).”
Selling weapons to occupant Armenia targets continuing the occupation and preserving the status quo. It is a serious impediment to resolving the conflict through negotiations and establishing peace and stability in the region.
The spokesperson added that Armenia uses this type of sniper weapons not only for combat purposes, but also against the civilian population, including women and young children, who live along the Armenian-Azerbaijani frontline.
The fact that Armenia buys sniper weapons in various ways, including through fake business transactions or "black market", proves once again that the statements of its government about the withdrawal of snipers from the contact line and its attempts to call it "building confidence", are unfounded and false.
“Azerbaijan, in its turn, hope that France and the UK, on the basis of international obligations and the requirements of national legislation, will seriously investigate the matter and take appropriate action,” Hajiyev said.
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