Armenia "turned down offer to buy Belarusian Polonez systems"December 14, 2018 - 18:14 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has revealed that he offered Armenia to buy Belarusian Polonez missile systems - which Minsk also supplies to Baku - but Armenia turned down the proposal. He added that Armenia rejected the deal citing the fact that Yerevan has acquired Russian Iskander missile systems, RIA Novosti reports. “Yes, for me, Azerbaijanis are no strangers, but you should not blame us for selling arms to Azerbaijan. According to Lukashenko, when the Belarusian side was testing the systems, they invited Armenians, Azerbaijanis and Russians to follow the process, Lukashenko added. During the test, he said, the Azerbaijani side expressed a wish to purchase the weapon. “And we need to return the loan the Chinese have given us for [the project]. I then .... say (to Azerbaijan - Ed.): 'Well, I will sell you the complex', and I tell the Armenians (because I knew that there are going to be problems): 'I am ready to supply you with a similar complex.' The Armenians refused, citing the fact that they have Russian Iskander systems," Lukashenko said. Lukashenko has recalled the proposals that Belarus and Russia made in an attempt to help address the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as he met with representatives of the Russian mass media community on 14 December. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. Azerbaijan razes historic Armenian church to ground Azerbaijan has demolished the historic Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist (known as Kanach Zham). |