BAKU (Noyan Tapan–ANS Press)–"The Russian Defense Ministry does not tolerate the suggestive tone of the Azeri Foreign Ministry statement regarding Russian Foreign minister Igor Sergeyev’s recent visit to Armenia," stated Chairman of the Executive Council of the Russian Defense Ministry International Defense Systems–General Leonid Ivashov.
According to Ivashov–Azerbaijan is attempting to place blame on Russia for rearming its 102nd division which is stationed in Armenia.
However–he explained that the 102nd division was deployed with the mutual consent of both sides. And–only Russia–as an independent state–based on consultations with Armenia–has a right to determine the accommodations necessary at its army bases.
ANS Press reported that Ivashov said that currently the difference in power is being observed between Armenia and Azerbaijan–between the participants to the Karabakh conflict. Ivashov stated that–he believed that Azerbaijan surpasses Armenian armed forces by three times–and by as much as eight times in military aviation. Ivashov found that to be extremely dangerous.
Ivashov also reported that Russia cannot remain undistrubed while Azerbaijan plays the NATO card. Specifially–at the June 12 NATO meeting–Azeri Defense Minister General Safar Abiyev made statemen’s in defense of NATO expansion and has expressed interests in using NATO investment programs in Azerbaijan to further objectives of the North Atlantic federation.