Russia`s Lavrov dismisses arms handover to Armenia
Russia has told the Azerbaijani government that it
did not transfer arms and military machinery valued at $800 million
to Armenia following recent media reports of such a transfer that
have raised tensions between the two countries.
On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov telephoned his counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov. Lavrov said his country`s foreign ministry had investigated the issue, assuring Mammadyarov that Russia had not handed over ammuniations or weaponry to Armenia, with which Azerbaijan has been involved in a dispute over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh.
The sides agreed to continue holding talks to look into the matter more thoroughly.
Prior to his conversation with Mammadyarov, the Russian minister told a news conference on Friday that Moscow had requested Baku produce an original of the document proving the arms handover had occurred, but a search has revealed that there is no such document.
At the same time, Lavrov noted that Russia has never denied it is maintaining military and technical cooperation with Armenia. He added that Armenia was part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the military arm of the CIS, and military purchases could be granted to the organization`s members.
On January 8, Azerbaijani media published a document listing alleged armaments handed over to the Armenian Defense Ministry from Russia`s military base in Gumri. The 69 types of arms, transferred under the authorization of Vyacheslav Golovchenko, deputy commander for armaments of the Northern Caucasus Military County, included tanks, a great number of rocket launchers, grenades, ammunition, grenade launchers, sub-machine guns, TNT fuses, mine-launchers, Grad missile launchers, and canons.
Col. Alexander Drobishevsky, the acting spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry, has dismissed the reports, although another ministry official earlier confirmed the delivery of arms.
The Azerbaijani government has expressed deep concern over Russia`s move. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said an investigation provided substantial grounds to conclude that the arms transfer had indeed taken place.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for nearly two decades. Peace talks followed a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but have brought few tangible results so far. Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law.
Russia is one of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, a team of diplomats also representing the United States and France that is mediating a peaceful settlement to the Garabagh conflict.
Further, the Azerbaijani ministry`s statement said that Russia`s move was in outright violation of the five UN resolutions on the Garabagh problem urging an unconditional pullout of the Armenian forces.
"This primarily refers to the violation of Russia`s commitment not to contribute to the furthering and strengthening of the occupation of Azerbaijan`s territories by any steps," noted the statement.
Baku thereby called on Moscow to take all actions to eliminate the consequences of the arms transfer.
Russian Defense Ministry representatives are due to pay a visit to Azerbaijan within days, the Milaz website quoted Russian military sources as saying. Russian military officials will attempt to reduce tensions betwen Moscow and Baku triggered by the weapons handover.
Observers note that Russia supplied $1 billion worth of arms and ammunition to Armenia in 1996. Since then, Russia has continued providing arms to the Armenian military.
On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov telephoned his counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov. Lavrov said his country`s foreign ministry had investigated the issue, assuring Mammadyarov that Russia had not handed over ammuniations or weaponry to Armenia, with which Azerbaijan has been involved in a dispute over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh.
The sides agreed to continue holding talks to look into the matter more thoroughly.
Prior to his conversation with Mammadyarov, the Russian minister told a news conference on Friday that Moscow had requested Baku produce an original of the document proving the arms handover had occurred, but a search has revealed that there is no such document.
At the same time, Lavrov noted that Russia has never denied it is maintaining military and technical cooperation with Armenia. He added that Armenia was part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the military arm of the CIS, and military purchases could be granted to the organization`s members.
On January 8, Azerbaijani media published a document listing alleged armaments handed over to the Armenian Defense Ministry from Russia`s military base in Gumri. The 69 types of arms, transferred under the authorization of Vyacheslav Golovchenko, deputy commander for armaments of the Northern Caucasus Military County, included tanks, a great number of rocket launchers, grenades, ammunition, grenade launchers, sub-machine guns, TNT fuses, mine-launchers, Grad missile launchers, and canons.
Col. Alexander Drobishevsky, the acting spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry, has dismissed the reports, although another ministry official earlier confirmed the delivery of arms.
The Azerbaijani government has expressed deep concern over Russia`s move. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said an investigation provided substantial grounds to conclude that the arms transfer had indeed taken place.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for nearly two decades. Peace talks followed a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but have brought few tangible results so far. Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law.
Russia is one of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, a team of diplomats also representing the United States and France that is mediating a peaceful settlement to the Garabagh conflict.
Further, the Azerbaijani ministry`s statement said that Russia`s move was in outright violation of the five UN resolutions on the Garabagh problem urging an unconditional pullout of the Armenian forces.
"This primarily refers to the violation of Russia`s commitment not to contribute to the furthering and strengthening of the occupation of Azerbaijan`s territories by any steps," noted the statement.
Baku thereby called on Moscow to take all actions to eliminate the consequences of the arms transfer.
Russian Defense Ministry representatives are due to pay a visit to Azerbaijan within days, the Milaz website quoted Russian military sources as saying. Russian military officials will attempt to reduce tensions betwen Moscow and Baku triggered by the weapons handover.
Observers note that Russia supplied $1 billion worth of arms and ammunition to Armenia in 1996. Since then, Russia has continued providing arms to the Armenian military.
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