Expert: Armenia must file a note of protest against Russia's weapon sale to Azerbaijan

Armenia must file a note of protest against Russia's weapon sale to Azerbaijan, former ambassador of Armenia to Canada, political analyst, director of the Centre for Sociological Studies, Ara Papyan, said at today's press-conference.

"Moscow says, if Russia did not sell weapon to Azerbaijan, another country would do that. This is an unclear and illogical answer. But the reaction of the Armenian party is more inadequate, as it is trying to justify the bargain", - he said.Papyan said that the West several times refused to show aid
to Armenia, stating that the country is Russia's ally and we must turn to Moscow.     

He also added that selling weapons to Azerbaijan by Armenia's strategic partner is unacceptable. "If Russia is a real strategic partner, it must not sell weapons to Azerbaijan to the detriment of its economic interests. Moreover, Armenia has always been loyal to Russia, while Moscow does not appreciate it," he said."Undoubtedly, Russia does not want starting of the war in Karabakh, but if it nevertheless starts, it will bring more victims. This a problem the authorities should think about", - he said. Papyan thinks that the given bargain cannot result in weakening of the Armenian parties in the negotiating process, as the latter is of the political but not military nature.

To note, on June 15 reports on the supply of military hardware to Azerbaijan by Russia flooded Mass Media. The military hardware being supplied to Baku is worth between $700 million and $1 billion and includes 94 T- 90S tanks, about 100 BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, 18 Msta-S howitzers, 18 Smerch rocket launchers, 18 Vena "floating mortars," and six TOS-1A Solntsepek multiple launch rocket systems. Only in 2010- 2011 Russia supplied arms in the amount of nearly $3 billion to Azerbaijan.