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EurasiaNet.org, NY
July 14 2013
Azerbaijan Objects To Armenian Acquisition Of European Missiles
July 14, 2013 - 9:30am, by Joshua Kucera
Azerbaijan is complaining about reports that Armenia has required
French/German anti-tank missiles in apparent violation of European
sanctions against the two countries. The controversy began when an
Armenian website published photos of an Armenian Ministroy of Defense
exposition last year. On display, apparently, was a MILAN anti-tank
missile, jointly produced by France and Germany.
And Azerbaijan has objected, reports APA: "The embassies of [France
and Germany] in Azerbaijan were demanded to clarify how these
countries that imposed an embargo on the sale of weapons to the
conflicting parties could deliver these systems to Armenia."
Both the French and German ambassadors have responded publicly, saying
they didn't do it. The French ambassador:
`I have no precise information about this sale which is very highly
improbable, because the export of military equipment would be in
contradiction with these sanctions. The French side is now
investigating the information and the source it came from.'
And the German ambassador:
"Germany is in compliance with OSCE embargoes on arms sales to Armenia
and Azerbaijan. Exports of military equipment would be contrary to the
sanctions. The federal government doesn't have additional
information," the embassy said.
Meanwhile, the Armenian Ministry of Defense is staying quiet on the matter.
The Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe maintains arms
sanctions on both Armenia and Azerbaijan, though obviously given that
Russia is an OSCE member, they are not watertight. The MILAN has been
produced since 1972 and is in service among at least 30 countries all
over the world, including Libya, Iraq, and Chad. So it seems very
likely that there are a number of these things floating around on the
black market, and that Armenia would have gotten them that way rather
than directly from Europe.
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/67247
July 14 2013
Azerbaijan Objects To Armenian Acquisition Of European Missiles
July 14, 2013 - 9:30am, by Joshua Kucera
Azerbaijan is complaining about reports that Armenia has required
French/German anti-tank missiles in apparent violation of European
sanctions against the two countries. The controversy began when an
Armenian website published photos of an Armenian Ministroy of Defense
exposition last year. On display, apparently, was a MILAN anti-tank
missile, jointly produced by France and Germany.
And Azerbaijan has objected, reports APA: "The embassies of [France
and Germany] in Azerbaijan were demanded to clarify how these
countries that imposed an embargo on the sale of weapons to the
conflicting parties could deliver these systems to Armenia."
Both the French and German ambassadors have responded publicly, saying
they didn't do it. The French ambassador:
`I have no precise information about this sale which is very highly
improbable, because the export of military equipment would be in
contradiction with these sanctions. The French side is now
investigating the information and the source it came from.'
And the German ambassador:
"Germany is in compliance with OSCE embargoes on arms sales to Armenia
and Azerbaijan. Exports of military equipment would be contrary to the
sanctions. The federal government doesn't have additional
information," the embassy said.
Meanwhile, the Armenian Ministry of Defense is staying quiet on the matter.
The Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe maintains arms
sanctions on both Armenia and Azerbaijan, though obviously given that
Russia is an OSCE member, they are not watertight. The MILAN has been
produced since 1972 and is in service among at least 30 countries all
over the world, including Libya, Iraq, and Chad. So it seems very
likely that there are a number of these things floating around on the
black market, and that Armenia would have gotten them that way rather
than directly from Europe.
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/67247