Azerbaijan to raise issue on Russia’s arms supply to Armenia in NATO Parliamentary Assembly

"Russia’s arms supply to Armenia may have serious outcomes.

Arms are given to be used, not to be collected in the cellar. How can it happen that Russia mediates in the settlement of the conflict and arms one of the sides? Russia should respect its signature as the member of the UN Security Council," first vice-speaker of parliament, chairman of the parliament’s standing commission on security and defense issues, head of Azerbaijani delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly Ziyafat Asgarov told APA exclusively. He said four resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council on withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territory and the statement made by the UN General Assembly in March, 2008 recognized Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

"I mention it because Russia is the permanent member of the UN Security Council. Why doesn’t Russia respect its signature, if it signed this document as the permanent member of the UN Security Council?: he said.

Ziyafat Asgarov noted that Russia was one of the co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group on the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. He said it was not clear why Russia supplied Armenia with arms, while the declaration was signed on the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict in Moscow on November 2 last year.

"Such cases cast shadow on Russia’s sincerity in its activity as OSCE Minsk Group co-chair. Besides, this is not the first time. Russia supplied Armenia with arms worth $1 billion during Boris Yeltsin’s presidency, in the second half of the 90s of the past century. I am sure that it happens regularly. These actions are not in line with the friendship between Azerbaijan and Russia," he said.

The first vice speaker emphasized that Russia stated about its friendly relations with Azerbaijan for many times. He noted that unfortunately there are such cases which shadow the mutual relations. "Words and actions should coincide with each other. Russia must deeply realize its responsibility for this issue. In any case it is an armament. There is no difference if they present it, sell or exchange with any property in Armenia. Russia has not to commit such action if it takes mission of mediation in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

Asgarov expressed opinion about the rejection of Russian co-chair in the OSCE Minsk Group. "I don’t support rejection of co-chair by any country in current situation. As it is the OSCE Minsk Group’s activity does not bring positive results. I am not sure that new mediator will change anything. All three co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group are permanent members of the UN Security Council. If these three countries-permanent members of the UN Security Council couldn’t achieve any result, I don’t believe that other countries will achieve it".

Asgarov thinks that the mediators should protect their neutral position at first. "How they can be neutral if they voted for Armenia during the UN General Assembly discussions over the Nagorno Karabakh conflict? We have to be interested in deepening friendship and cooperation with these countries and at the same time to say own words".

Asgarov said the issue would be raised in the spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Oslo in May, 2009 and everything would depend on specification of the fact. "The ministries of foreign affairs and defense are specifying the issue now. Depending on the results of these specifications, we will seriously raise the issue before the NATO Parliamentary Assembly".

The first vice speaker touched upon the recent developments too. In his opinion, some countries intend to turn the international law into the law of power. "It can not be allowed. If it is going on such way, it will be difficult to imagine the future of world order".

/APA/