MOSCOW: Russian arms move to Armenia leaves balance of forcesunchang

Russian arms move to Armenia leaves balance of forces unchanged – minister

Interfax news agency, Moscow
14 Jun 05

St Petersburg, 14 June: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has
said that the planned withdrawal of some Russian weapons from Georgia
to Armenia will not change the balance of forces in the Transcaucasus.

“No change in the balance of forces is envisaged,” Lavrov said today
in St Petersburg in reply to questions from journalists.

The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry recalled that the Russian
side has informed Azerbaijan that the planned withdrawal of Russian
weapons to Armenia will not lead to a change in the balance of forces
in the region.

Earlier, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov said in St Petersburg
that some Russian weapons from bases on Georgian territory would be
transferred to a Russian base in Armenia. “This is not about giving
weapons to Armenia. The weapons will be moved to another Russian base,”
Ivanov said.

He stressed that Russia will observe the flank restrictions of the
Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, which provide for the presence
of required numbers of weapons in specific places.

Withdrawal of Russia’s last two military bases in Georgia will begin
in 2005 and end in 2008.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress