Free Democrats Party is concerned over Russia's decision to sell $1bln worth of arms to Azerbaijan.
In a press statement released on Wednesday the party says that this is not the first time Russia is selling arms to Azerbaijan though declaring itself to be Armenia's strategic partner. "By doing this the Russians are encouraging the Azeris' bellicose moods and their wish to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through war," says the party.
"In fact, being a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Russia is provoking an aggression against another member of the same organization, Armenia. Meanwhile, the friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance agreement signed by Russia and Armenia in 1997 says that the parties should do all they can to prevent possible threats. As part of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia keeps urging Armenia and Azerbaijan to stop arming themselves, but in practice it is actively arming the Azeris. The presence of so much weaponry in the region is a big obstacle to the peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict. Russia is acting contrary to its strategic commitments to Armenia, so, we must give an adequate response to this," says the party.