Azernews.Az

Moldova has reportedly asked Baku for an apology over the sale of weaponry to Armenia, Azerbaijan’s long-time foe.

Moldovan Prime Minister Vladimir Filat expressed Chisinau’s regret over the recently disclosed weapons deal to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during the recent Eastern Partnership summit in Warsaw, Moldovan ambassador in Baku Igor Bodiu was quoted by Azerbaijani media as saying.

Bodiu reportedly confirmed that Moldova sold weaponry worth $3 million to Armenia, adding that though no international sanctions are in place on the arms sales to the South Caucasus republic, it was "an erroneous political move".

"We hope that this [arms sales] will not damage our relations," the ambassador said. He added that the Moldovan parliament and security council’s commissions are scrutinizing the incident.

Reports circulated earlier that Defense Minister Vitaly Marinutse admitted during recent closed-door hearings in parliament that Moldova had sold weaponry and military machinery to Armenia.

Analysts said the move could spark ire in Azerbaijan, which faces a two-decade-long conflict with neighboring Armenia over its occupied Nagorno Karabakh region. They said it could also hamper cooperation within GUAM, a group of four former Soviet republics including Azerbaijan and Moldova.

The row emerged after reports said a plane carrying artillery and anti-tank weapons flew from Moldova's capital Chisinau to Yerevan.

The Moldovan government said it was unaware of the arms sales, but military officials said they acted on the government’s orders.

Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov commented earlier that according to incoming data, Armenia had imported a considerable amount of offensive weapons from neighboring countries, including rockets, anti-tank weapons and 78,000 AK rifles. He added that the countries selling the weaponry are "making a big mistake".

Some analysts also linked Moldovan acting President Marian Lupu’s recent sacking of the country’s armed forces chief to the row over the arms sales, though according to the presidential degree, Gen. Iurie Dominic was dismissed to improve discipline in the military and prevent violation of military laws in the future.