Azerbaijan studies Russia-Armenia military protocol

"Any agreement or treaty between Russia and Armenia applies only to those countries. But the security in the South Caucasus and issue of the volume of conventional and strategic weapons in the region are not problems of just these two states. These matters are decided by the flank agreement in accordance with the OSCE concept on security in Europe," Head of Azerbaijani Presidential Administration's Socio-political Department Ali Hasanov told journalists today.

"Now, our military specialists and the OSCE officials are engaged in defining the compliance with the quota. After outcome of the study is available, the Azerbaijani government will express its position on this issue."

Baku hopes that Moscow will fulfill its commitments on non-usage of resources and arms of the Russia's 102nd Military Base accommodated in Armenia against Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesman Elkhan Polukhov said earlier.

Hasanov recalled that Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Russia joined the OSCE flank agreement on the South Caucasus in 1992. The document stipulates a precise volume of conventional weapons to be available on the South Caucasus, including amount of military equipment, aircraft, tanks and other armored vehicles - quota of arms is determined for each country.

There have been armament and military forces in the Nagorno-Karabakh for several years outside this quota and beyond the OSCE control. They are not being monitored and there is no count. The quota of the Armenian armed forces also includes a Russian military base. Russian weapons placed in Armenia shall not exceed the quota.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied territories.


/Trend/