AZERBAIJAN TO RAISE ISSUE ON RUSSIA’S ARMS SUPPLY TO ARMENIA IN NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY
APA
Jan 19 2009
Azerbaijan
Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev – APA. "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".