Lavrov responds to accusations of supplying arms to Azerbaijan and imposing Moscow's will on Armenia

YEREVAN, May 21. /ARKA/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has responded to accusations that Azerbaijan has been fighting against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh with Russian weapons, and rejected claims that Armenia's foreign policy is being imposed on it.

About arms deliveries

“Let me remind you that Armenia, too, used Russian weapons almost all the years after independence, including for seizure of  seven Azerbaijani districts, which it never claimed,” Lavrov said.

He recalled that none of Armenia's first leaders ever proposed to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent entity.

“But Russian weapons were used to seize seven uncontested Azerbaijani districts and build fortification and battle lines there, which showed that the calculation there was for a very long retention of these territories. Some analysts said that the nature of these fortifications shows that there were no plans to hand them back to Azerbaijan at all. Russian weapons are also used in Africa,” Lavrov said.

New agreements on arms deliveries

“Episodes with payment for deliveries and failed deliveries (of weapons to Armenia - ed.), we discussed and settled. These payments have been offset for other purposes. There are no contradictions here regarding new deliveries,” Lavrov said.

He noted that the modern weapons coming to Ukraine require a response.

“Our Armenian friends, I am convinced, understand that in these situations we cannot fulfill all our obligations on time. But even in this environment, a number of systems contracted by Armenian friends are being transferred and we will continue this practice,” Lavrov said.

The right to choose

“About the purchase of weapons in other countries, there is no problem. This is the choice of our Armenian friends. If they want to have a French base for additional supplies, we do not mind, if some other country, we do not mind either. We will not impose anything,” Lavrov said.

Nevertheless, he called it unacceptable when an ally relies on the armament of a country such as France, which heads an enemy camp.   

“We recognize the right to choose, we still have very good relations with our Armenian friends, despite a number of problems that have arisen in relations due to probably misunderstanding of each other's positions. But as far as Karabakh is concerned, no one can reproach us, because for the last 20 years Russian presidents have been promoting solutions that ensure a fair approach through peace talks,” Lavrov said.

He recalled that it was proposed to give 5 out of 7 Azerbaijani districts as a first step. And as an intermediate stage to keep the Kelbajar and Lachin districts linking Armenia with Karabakh in the status they had then, postponing the decision on the final status of Karabakh for many years - until future generations.

“This is probably better than what we have gotten now. These compromise solutions promoted by the Russian side were rejected. But the right to choose was realized,” Lavrov said.

There are no parallels with Ukraine

“I see no reason for the Ukrainianization of Armenia. Armenia - our ally, our friend, does not outlaw the Russian language, Russian culture, does not deprive ethnic Russians and those who simply want to speak Russian of their legal rights. No law has been passed banning all this, as it happened in Ukraine,” Lavrov said.

He said it turned out that the Azerbaijani language is not banned in Armenia, and the Armenian language is not constitutionally banned in Azerbaijan, including Karabakh.

“Armenia is a civilized country,” Lavrov said. -0-