ST.PETERSBURG. June 14 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the planned transfer of some of Russia's armaments currently stationed in Georgia to Armenia will not alter the balance of forces in Transcaucasia.
"We do not anticipate any change in the balance of forces," Lavrov told journalists in St. Petersburg on Tuesday.
The minister said Russia had notified Azerbaijan that the planned transfer of Russian weapons to Armenia would not alter the balance of forces in the region.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said in St. Petersburg earlier on Tuesday that some of the armaments currently deployed at Russia's bases in Georgia would be transferred to a Russian base in Armenia. "The possibility of handing over these weapons to Armenia is not being discussed. The armaments will be transferred to another Russian base," Ivanov said.
Russia will be governed by the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty's regional ("flank") limits, Ivanov said.
The withdrawal of Russia's military bases from Georgia is due to begin in 2005 and finalize in 2008.