Azebaijan, Baku, Feb. 4 / Trend , E.Rustamov/
Azerbaijan hopes that Russia's official reply about supply of ammunition worth $800 million to Armenia is true.
Russian Defense Ministry denied media reports that it supplied ammunition to Armenia from the 102nd military base in Gyumri in 2008.
"We have an official document and have to believe in it, because these steps do not correspond to the spirit and nature of the bilateral and multilateral relations developing between Azerbaijan and Russia over the last 7-8 years," Azerbaijani Presidential Administration International Relations Department head Novruz Mammadov told Trend on Feb. 4.
Mammadov says Azerbaijani is certainly concerned on the issue. "If that took place, which is impossible to hide, then sooner or later different evidences will be found and Azerbaijan will express its views," he said.
Mammadov believes Russia will not allow relations with Azerbaijan to be undermined, as this does not correspond to interests of both countries.
"We have a reply and have to be content. But this does not mean that the process has stopped," said Mammadov.
Russia's Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vasiliy Istratov was previously invited to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry to clarify the situation. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry issued a statement accusing Moscow of complicating the security situation in the region and the peace process aimed to resolve the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Later, Russian Defense and Foreign Ministries denied media reports that the country supplied ammunition to Yerevan. Baku, however, remained dissatisfied with Moscow's reply. During a telephone conversation both countries' Foreign Ministers agreed to continue consultations on the issue.
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