Your trusted source

“Russia never supplies weapons to such regions where such supplies would destabilize the situation, be it the Transcaucasia, the Middle East or any other part on the planet. Therefore the essence of the issue should be considered, and the essence of the issue is that here we have defensive weaponry which are being delivered in full conformity with international requirements,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Armenian TV program Realpolitik, asked to comment on the recent news that Russia is going to sell C-300 anti-missile defense systems to Azerbaijan.

"You know, the C-300 anti-missile defense systems have become a kind of symbol of alarm. Now some talking has started around Azerbaijan; earlier there were similar rumors around Iran. But let's not forget what the C-300 anti-missile defense systems are for; they are defensive weaponry meant to protect a particular area from outside attacks. That's it. Russia always supplies any weaponry in line with the norms of the international law," said Lavrov.

According to Lavrov, the defensive weaponry does not destabilize the situation, except in those cases when someone attempts to use offensive weaponry. The defensive weaponry may cause problems for those who plan to use force. “I am sure that in the region [South Caucasus] we are speaking about, no single state is going to launch military actions, as that would be disastrous. In August 2008 when your neighbor [Georgian President] Mr Mikheil Saakashvili tried to solve the South Ossetian problems with methods unacceptable for the international law, we saw that the aggressor will in no case reach its aim. I am sure that there will be no such attempts between Armenian and Azerbaijan, because, I am repeating, I have participated in the meeting among presidents [Serzh] Sargsyan and [Ilham] Aliyev with [Dmitry] Medvedev; all the three presidents put their signatures under documents which do not allow the use of force, and assure their commitment to solve the problems of the Nagorno Karabakh exclusively by peaceful methods," said Mr Lavrov.