03 March 2009, 07:00
Military experts: "arms scandal" between Azerbaijan and Russia is beneficial for EU
Experts of the Russian Centre of Military Forecasting believe that the "arms scandal" - the charge moved by Azerbaijan against Russia of arms deliveries to Armenia - is beneficial for the European Union (EU) in view of supporting NATO and has to do with the process of settlement of the Karabakh problem.
"Possibly, this is an attempt to shake the situation around the Karabakh conflict. But I personally think that the scandal is far-fetched", Anatoly Tsyganok, head of the Centre, said in his interview to the "Caucasian Knot".
According to the expert, the point is in the arms that were stored at the Georgian base of reconnaissance battalion with attached communication battalion, means of air defence and, partially, of the tank subdivision.
We remind you that in mid-January, Vasily Istratov, Russia's Ambassador in Baku, was invited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijan in the context of media reports about transfer to Armenia of arms worth 800 million US dollars from the 102nd military base in Gyumri. Then, the Azerbaijani MFA accused Moscow of helping Armenia "in occupying Azerbaijani territories."
The Russian party states its non-involvement in the "arms scandal". However, Armenian experts assert that Armenia, being a member of the Organization of the Collective Safety Treaty (the so-called "ODKB"), has agreements about arm deliveries on privileged terms and is also legally receiving arms under Armenian-Russian arrangements.
Author: Dmitry Florin Source: CK correspondent
