While selling arms to Armenia and friendly Azerbaijan, Russia thoroughly takes into account the importance of maintaining stable situation in the region, said Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry Feb. 25.
She was answering to Trend’s question about the note sent by Azerbaijan to Russia over the arms sale to Armenia, according to Russian Foreign Ministry’s website.
“In general, Russia remains committed to all of its international obligations in arms sale issues and acts within framework of the national export control system enshrined in Russian legislation,” she said, adding that the latter envisages forming the end-use certificate.
Further, answering to a question by Armenian media whether Russian Foreign Ministry regards Azerbaijan’s note as an attempt to interfere in affairs of two sovereign states, Zakharova responded negatively, saying any neighboring country has a legal right to inquire about intentions of the states with which that country shares borders.
She added that military and technical cooperation issues should also be transparent.
“Therefore, we always provide the Azerbaijani side with all the necessary information through diplomatic channels,” added the Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson.
Earlier, commenting on the information about the entry into force of a $200 million loan agreement on weapons and military equipment sale by Russia to Armenia, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hikmet Hajiyev said the ministry has already sent a note to Russian Foreign Ministry over the matter.
Azerbaijan has repeatedly brought to international community’s attention the undeniable facts that the weapons and military equipment acquired by Armenia are deployed on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh region, read the note.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council’s four resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Trend