June 2, 2005 - 08:31 AMT
ARMENIA SILENT ON TRANSFER OF RUSSIAN ARMS TO ITS TERRITORY
None of Armenian officials confirms or refutes reports the first echelon with Russian arms arrived in Armenia from Batumi yesterday. The only person, who commented on it was Armenian FM V. Oskanian, who did «not rule out the opportunity of transfer of part of Russian military bases from Georgia to Armenia in the future.» «There are no discussions or talks over the issue at the moment. But if such a decision is taken, it will be a prerogative of Russia and Armenia,» Oskanian said last Wednesday, RFE/RL reported. It should be noted that yesterday Russian media referring to representatives of the military contingent in Transcaucasia spread reports that a rail echelon with military equipment and arms is sent to Armenia from Batumi. Meanwhile, today Azeri Ambassador to Georgia Ramiz Hasanov said the withdrawal of the Russian equipment and ammunition from the Russian base in Batumi to Armenia has not started yet.