Russia `donates` $800m arms to Armenia
Russia, one of the controversial players in
brokering a settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh conflict, has transferred large quantities of weaponry and
military machinery worth an estimated $800 million to Armenia,
reports say.
There were 69 types of arms included in a list acquired by Azerbaijan`s Mediaforum news website that were handed over to the Armenian Defense Ministry from Russia`s military base in Gumri, Armenia. The transfer was carried out in 2008 and signed for by Lieut.-Gen. Vyacheslav Golovchenko, deputy commander for armaments in the Northern Caucasus Military County.
The weapons includes 21 tanks, 12 armored vehicles, five other battle machines, a great number of rocket launchers, over 1,050 cases of grenades, nearly 7,900 types of ammunition, 120 grenade launchers, over 4,000 sub-machine guns, TNT fuses, mines of various types, 14 mine-launchers, 9 Grad launchers, five canons, and additional weapons.
The Russian ambassador in Baku Vasiliy Istratov has been called to Azerbaijan`s Foreign Ministry over the reports on the arms transfer.
Istratov said the ministry had sought his clarification on the issue. While saying "a very constructive exchange of views" had been carried out, he stressed that he was unaware of the arms delivery.
"I have learnt about the matter communicated to me only from the media. I cannot refer to any other sources that would either confirm or refute this. As an official, I am stating that I had no information about the transfer of arms. But, as I promised to the minister, I will look into whether or not these reports are true or false."
Baku`s concern over the arms transfer has apparently not stopped Moscow from delivering weapons. Armenia`s Hayastan TV channel reported that Russia intends to additionally transfer S-125 and Pechora-2M rocket-launchers to the air defense forces of the country`s Defense Ministry soon.
The Azerbaijan Defense Ministry has said it was aware of the issue, but it is yet to be studied. Its spokesman, Eldar Sabiroghlu, said the ministry would state its position on the matter after the scrutiny is completed.
Russia supplied $1 billion worth of arms and ammunition to Armenia in 1996. Moscow had long refused to recognize the transfer but eventually acknowledged it. However, this did not lead to the halt in Russian armament flowing to Armenia.
Since 1996, Russia has been, from time to time, providing certain amounts of arms to the Armenian military.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for over a decade. However, peace talks began after a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but have brought few tangible results. Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law.
Aydin Mirzazada, deputy chairman of Azerbaijan`s parliamentary commission on security and defense issues, has said the arms transfer could be described only as an international row.
"One of the warring countries is being provided, free of charge, various ammunition to the tune of $800m. Given that Armenia`s annual military budget currently constitutes $400m, this country is turning into a huge military store house."
Mirzazada said that since Russia is one of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group [a team of diplomats also including the United States and France] which is obliged to mediate a peaceful settlement to the Garabagh conflict, the Russian position is astonishing. "It is absolutely unclear to the Azerbaijani public for what purpose this is being done and which [principles of] international law these actions are based upon. "Russia must carry out mediation and adhere to a fair stance which dwells upon the return of 20% of Azerbaijan`s Armenia-occupied territory," Mirzazada said.
The lawmaker went on to say that Moscow should be interested in demilitarizing the region.
"Instead, we are witnessing that our strategic ally is handing over arms worth a large amount to the invader. The target of this armament is clear - Azerbaijan, capturing new territories and destabilizing the region. We would like to get a clear-cut response from Russia to that end."
"Certainly, Armenia is buying arms from Russia, as much as it is permitted, but the transfer of such a tremendous quantity of weapons to this country cannot but affect the overall situation in the region. We demand that these arms be returned and for Armenia to be demilitarized."
According to Mirzazada, the latest arms transfer runs counter to the November 2 declaration on a political Garabagh settlement co-signed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. It remains to be guessed whether Moscow`s latest actions stem from defying the declaration by certain Russian circles or represent a provocation against President Medvedev. But, in any case, those responsible for this provocation have to be named and punished, according to officials.
There were 69 types of arms included in a list acquired by Azerbaijan`s Mediaforum news website that were handed over to the Armenian Defense Ministry from Russia`s military base in Gumri, Armenia. The transfer was carried out in 2008 and signed for by Lieut.-Gen. Vyacheslav Golovchenko, deputy commander for armaments in the Northern Caucasus Military County.
The weapons includes 21 tanks, 12 armored vehicles, five other battle machines, a great number of rocket launchers, over 1,050 cases of grenades, nearly 7,900 types of ammunition, 120 grenade launchers, over 4,000 sub-machine guns, TNT fuses, mines of various types, 14 mine-launchers, 9 Grad launchers, five canons, and additional weapons.
The Russian ambassador in Baku Vasiliy Istratov has been called to Azerbaijan`s Foreign Ministry over the reports on the arms transfer.
Istratov said the ministry had sought his clarification on the issue. While saying "a very constructive exchange of views" had been carried out, he stressed that he was unaware of the arms delivery.
"I have learnt about the matter communicated to me only from the media. I cannot refer to any other sources that would either confirm or refute this. As an official, I am stating that I had no information about the transfer of arms. But, as I promised to the minister, I will look into whether or not these reports are true or false."
Baku`s concern over the arms transfer has apparently not stopped Moscow from delivering weapons. Armenia`s Hayastan TV channel reported that Russia intends to additionally transfer S-125 and Pechora-2M rocket-launchers to the air defense forces of the country`s Defense Ministry soon.
The Azerbaijan Defense Ministry has said it was aware of the issue, but it is yet to be studied. Its spokesman, Eldar Sabiroghlu, said the ministry would state its position on the matter after the scrutiny is completed.
Russia supplied $1 billion worth of arms and ammunition to Armenia in 1996. Moscow had long refused to recognize the transfer but eventually acknowledged it. However, this did not lead to the halt in Russian armament flowing to Armenia.
Since 1996, Russia has been, from time to time, providing certain amounts of arms to the Armenian military.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for over a decade. However, peace talks began after a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but have brought few tangible results. Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law.
Aydin Mirzazada, deputy chairman of Azerbaijan`s parliamentary commission on security and defense issues, has said the arms transfer could be described only as an international row.
"One of the warring countries is being provided, free of charge, various ammunition to the tune of $800m. Given that Armenia`s annual military budget currently constitutes $400m, this country is turning into a huge military store house."
Mirzazada said that since Russia is one of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group [a team of diplomats also including the United States and France] which is obliged to mediate a peaceful settlement to the Garabagh conflict, the Russian position is astonishing. "It is absolutely unclear to the Azerbaijani public for what purpose this is being done and which [principles of] international law these actions are based upon. "Russia must carry out mediation and adhere to a fair stance which dwells upon the return of 20% of Azerbaijan`s Armenia-occupied territory," Mirzazada said.
The lawmaker went on to say that Moscow should be interested in demilitarizing the region.
"Instead, we are witnessing that our strategic ally is handing over arms worth a large amount to the invader. The target of this armament is clear - Azerbaijan, capturing new territories and destabilizing the region. We would like to get a clear-cut response from Russia to that end."
"Certainly, Armenia is buying arms from Russia, as much as it is permitted, but the transfer of such a tremendous quantity of weapons to this country cannot but affect the overall situation in the region. We demand that these arms be returned and for Armenia to be demilitarized."
According to Mirzazada, the latest arms transfer runs counter to the November 2 declaration on a political Garabagh settlement co-signed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. It remains to be guessed whether Moscow`s latest actions stem from defying the declaration by certain Russian circles or represent a provocation against President Medvedev. But, in any case, those responsible for this provocation have to be named and punished, according to officials.
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