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AZERBAIJAN INTENDS TO PURCHASE SUBMARINES, DESTROYER AND AIRCRAFT IN SOUTH KOREA
Turan Information Agency
August 27, 2013 Tuesday
Baku/26.08.13/Turan:
Azerbaijan wants to purchase a large number of modern weapons from
South Korea. However, official Seoul has doubts, fearing a negative
reaction from Russia as well as the possibility of an imbalance of
forces, given the dispute between Baku and Yerevan over the ownership
of Nagorno-Karabakh, according to South Korean newspaper "Hanguk Ilbo,"
referring to its sources in the country's parliament.
"Rossiyskaya Gazeta" reported that Baku's interest in acquiring South
Korean weapons and equipment was made during a recent visit of the
delegation to the Parliament of South Korea.
The list of weapons that the Azerbaijani authorities would like to buy
is rather large. In particular, Azerbaijan would like to purchase two
submarines, destroyers, transport ship, supersonic trainer aircraft
T-50, one of the world's best K-9 self-propelled guns 155 mm caliber,
helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, fire control systems and
other items. The total transaction of the value, in the case of its
conclusion, would be at least three billion dollars.
"Hanguk Ilbo" noted that the weapons are desired by Baku primarily in
support of the confrontation with Yerevan in the territorial dispute
over Nagorno-Karabakh, which is now under Armenian control. In
addition, the strengthening of the armed forces of Azerbaijan will
increase opportunities to protect its rich oil and gas deposits.
These proposed purchases have been delivered to the government of South
Korea which is not in a hurry to start negotiations with Azerbaijan
over the arms. There are several reasons for the reluctance. First,
the supply of such large quantities of weapons could lead to a change
in the balance of power in the region and will be perceived as a
"game" of Seoul on the side of Baku in the territorial dispute,
in which Koreans do not want to get involved.
Deputy Kim Kwang Jin, who was among a group of MPs who visited Baku,
recognized the potential problem. "We have yet to discover should
we supply weapons to the country, which has a territorial dispute
with another state," said Kim, but acknowledged that "Azerbaijan has
expressed a very strong interest and desire to buy our weapons."
Korean gunsmiths would like to export such large quantities of
weapons, which would not only help to earn a substantial amount,
but also improve the image of South Korea as a global supplier of arms.
Seoul does not hide its goal of becoming an active player in the
international arms market. However, they understand that the weapon
is often the policy, and therefore have to watch what you sell and
to whom.
According to the "Hanguk Ilbo," the South Korean Foreign Ministry
reacted negatively to the possibility of selling weapons to Azerbaijan,
and recommended that the Ministry of Defense of Korea "exercise
particular care and restraint."
In this regard, in Korea it was reported that the head of the
military department of the country not by chance recently cited
"heavy workload internal affairs," in rejecting Baku's proposal, as
well as the suggestion of a Korean MP to visit Azerbaijan. However,
the paper said that instead of the minister, his deputy is going to
visit Baku, and he will discuss the issue of the supply of weapons.
"Hanguk Ilbo" notes that there is another reason for caution of Seoul.
They do not want to spoil relations with Russia, which has a special
interest in the region, as well as its position in the relations with
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh issue. "It is clear that
Russia heartedly react to the fact that Azerbaijan will dramatically
increase its military capabilities, with our help, " the newspaper
quoted the opinion of the representative of the government of South
Korea. A compromise proposal was suggested, "To reduce the risk
of negative reaction of Russia, they should start consideration of
the organizing supplies of purely defensive weapons to Azerbaijan,
" said Hanguk O' Jeong-Jin, the professor at Seoul University of
Foreign Studies. -02D-
From: Baghdasarian
Turan Information Agency
August 27, 2013 Tuesday
Baku/26.08.13/Turan:
Azerbaijan wants to purchase a large number of modern weapons from
South Korea. However, official Seoul has doubts, fearing a negative
reaction from Russia as well as the possibility of an imbalance of
forces, given the dispute between Baku and Yerevan over the ownership
of Nagorno-Karabakh, according to South Korean newspaper "Hanguk Ilbo,"
referring to its sources in the country's parliament.
"Rossiyskaya Gazeta" reported that Baku's interest in acquiring South
Korean weapons and equipment was made during a recent visit of the
delegation to the Parliament of South Korea.
The list of weapons that the Azerbaijani authorities would like to buy
is rather large. In particular, Azerbaijan would like to purchase two
submarines, destroyers, transport ship, supersonic trainer aircraft
T-50, one of the world's best K-9 self-propelled guns 155 mm caliber,
helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, fire control systems and
other items. The total transaction of the value, in the case of its
conclusion, would be at least three billion dollars.
"Hanguk Ilbo" noted that the weapons are desired by Baku primarily in
support of the confrontation with Yerevan in the territorial dispute
over Nagorno-Karabakh, which is now under Armenian control. In
addition, the strengthening of the armed forces of Azerbaijan will
increase opportunities to protect its rich oil and gas deposits.
These proposed purchases have been delivered to the government of South
Korea which is not in a hurry to start negotiations with Azerbaijan
over the arms. There are several reasons for the reluctance. First,
the supply of such large quantities of weapons could lead to a change
in the balance of power in the region and will be perceived as a
"game" of Seoul on the side of Baku in the territorial dispute,
in which Koreans do not want to get involved.
Deputy Kim Kwang Jin, who was among a group of MPs who visited Baku,
recognized the potential problem. "We have yet to discover should
we supply weapons to the country, which has a territorial dispute
with another state," said Kim, but acknowledged that "Azerbaijan has
expressed a very strong interest and desire to buy our weapons."
Korean gunsmiths would like to export such large quantities of
weapons, which would not only help to earn a substantial amount,
but also improve the image of South Korea as a global supplier of arms.
Seoul does not hide its goal of becoming an active player in the
international arms market. However, they understand that the weapon
is often the policy, and therefore have to watch what you sell and
to whom.
According to the "Hanguk Ilbo," the South Korean Foreign Ministry
reacted negatively to the possibility of selling weapons to Azerbaijan,
and recommended that the Ministry of Defense of Korea "exercise
particular care and restraint."
In this regard, in Korea it was reported that the head of the
military department of the country not by chance recently cited
"heavy workload internal affairs," in rejecting Baku's proposal, as
well as the suggestion of a Korean MP to visit Azerbaijan. However,
the paper said that instead of the minister, his deputy is going to
visit Baku, and he will discuss the issue of the supply of weapons.
"Hanguk Ilbo" notes that there is another reason for caution of Seoul.
They do not want to spoil relations with Russia, which has a special
interest in the region, as well as its position in the relations with
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh issue. "It is clear that
Russia heartedly react to the fact that Azerbaijan will dramatically
increase its military capabilities, with our help, " the newspaper
quoted the opinion of the representative of the government of South
Korea. A compromise proposal was suggested, "To reduce the risk
of negative reaction of Russia, they should start consideration of
the organizing supplies of purely defensive weapons to Azerbaijan,
" said Hanguk O' Jeong-Jin, the professor at Seoul University of
Foreign Studies. -02D-
From: Baghdasarian