AZERBAIJAN DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN SELLING RADAR SYSTEMS TO IRAQ

BAKU, SEPTEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS:A Baku-based Russian language Echo daily said September 28 that in a bid to divert attention from accusations that Ukraine was been involved in illegal sale of Kolchuga radar systems to Iraq, Ukraine°s National Security and Defense Council Secretary Yevhen Marchuk issued a statement pledging "unprecedented openness" during the investigation of reports about sale of Kolchuga systems to Iraq saying that in all, several dozen Kolchuga radar systems had been produced and they were stationed not only in Ukraine, but also in Russia, Belarus and Azerbaijan. In an interview with Ekho Azerbaijani Defense Ministry flatly denied Marchuk°s statement. The head of the ministry press service, Ramiz Malikov, said that there were no Kolchuga radar systems in Azerbaijan. "Azerbaijan therefore could not sell Kolchuga systems to anybody," he said.-0-/39/