Armenia’s Defense Ministry denies reports on buying weapons from Albania

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The Armenian Defense Ministry has denied reports on buying weapons from Albania. Spokesman for the ministry Seyran Shakhsuvaryan talking to a REGNUM correspondent said that “no agreements have been reached about delivery of weapons from Albania to Armenia” and he heard of it for the first time. Leaks in the media, Shakhsuvaryan said, were another lie.

According to some media, including Gazetashqiptare (Albania), an Armenian Defense Ministry official got in touch with his colleague in Albania and ordered a large shipment of weapons including flak of various calibers varying from 75 mm to 122 mm. After MEIKO Company having experience in the field was instructed to establish ties with officials in Armenia in charge and strike a deal. The source also notes that the Armenian side was supposed to pay for the shipment. However, Turkish authorities allegedly denied transit to it, and the ship with 60 containers aboard turned back. They in Albania are sure that the Turkey’s motion was caused by its harsh relations with Yerevan. MEIKO leadership, in its turn, believes that Albania has nothing to do with the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, because all selling procedures were carried out properly and legalized, so, today, the Albanian side is searching for other routes to deliver the shipment to Armenia.