US Defence Sale Ban Won't Stop Azeris Arming

17:10, August 23, 2012

Substantial arms purchases mostly made in other ex-Soviet states.

By Shahla Sultanova - Caucasus

The United States' decision not to sell arms to Azerbaijan for fear they could be used against Armenia will do little to curb the country's growing defence-sector acquisitions, experts say. 

The US Department of State wanted to add Azerbaijan to the list of countries eligible to buy American military equipment, specifically for border protection and "police-type" activities. But it shelved the plan on June 27, after Congressman Howard Berman wrote to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to argue that "this equipment could be used to identify and possibly target Armenians in the border area for surveillance or for attack".  Read more... (905 words)

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