In the framework of the meeting between the Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu and his Azerbaijani counterpart Zakir Hasanov in Baku, among other issues specifically related to the creation of a collective security system in the Caspian, changes in the nomenclatures of Russian arms supplies to Azerbaijan were discussed, an informed source in the military and diplomatic circles told Izvestiya.
According to the source, during his visit to Baku Shoygu handed to the republic's leadership a package of proposals of the Russian military agency, receiving counterproposals from the Azerbaijan. Now the sides have to coordinate their positions.
The source noted that the issue concerns a partial reviewing of a large contract signed several years ago. The Editor-in-Chief of Eksport Vooruzheniy (Arms Supply) magazine Andrey Frolov noted that currently there is a certain gross contract amount, in the framework of which the Azerbaijanis want to withdraw from some of the supplies of several previously agreed positions in order to replace them with others.
''Perhaps, the issue concerns the purchase of ammunition (for instance, for Smerch multiple rocket launcher) to replace those used up during the escalation in Karabakh, since this is more pressing than the purchase of heavy armament,'' the military expert supposed.
''They can also withdraw from IFV-3, which is not the most priority technology in the conditions of the specific combat theatre. They can be replaced with strike systems: new Smerch or self-propelled artillery like Msta self-propelled howitzer. Baku may also be interested in Pantsir anti-
