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FRIENDS WITH NATO FOR RUSSIA'S SAKE?
by Karen Abramjan
Translated by A. Ignatkin
Source: Severny Kavkaz (Nalchik), No 47, November 28 - December 4, 2006, EV
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
December 6, 2006 Wednesday
REGARDLESS OF THE SELF-PROCLAIMED POLICY OF EQUIDISTANCE FROM ALL
CENTERS OF POWER, YEREVAN IS ON ITS WAY TO FULL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
WITH NATO; Armenia drifts in the direction of NATO.
NATO Command has planned a major strategic exercise for April 27 -
May 13, 2007. Joint Aspiration'2007 will be coordinated from the
territories of Armenia and Germany. According to Colonel Samvel Atojan,
Chief of the Directorate of Communications and Automatic Systems of the
Armenian General Staff, the exercise will be run "to maintain reliable
communications between the armies of the participants." The exercise
planning conference that took place in the middle of November, in
Yerevan, attracted more than 260 servicemen from 38 countries. Armenia
has participated in the exercises of the series since 2002, first as an
observer and as a full member afterwards. Atojan made special emphasis
on the choice of Armenia as the location of the planning conference.
Observers comment in the meantime that Yerevan's once veiled
geopolitical flirting with the Alliance is rapidly evolving
into a devastating obsession. Regardless of the self-proclaimed
policy of "complementary" equidistance from all centers of power,
representatives of the Armenian establishment angle for what is known
as Mr. Saakashvili's position. Namely, for full strategic partnership
with the Alliance. The only difference is that the president of
Georgia openly admits it while the Armenian authorities camouflage
their drift with not particularly convincing rhetoric on "advantages"
of the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization. Defense Minister
Serj Sarkisjan returned from Iraq the other day and said, "I've always
maintained that Armenia's membership in the CIS Collective Security
Treaty Organization and cooperation with NATO are a continuation of
our mutually complementary policy. Military-political blocs are set
up for and not against something..." This is it then.
Judging by his logic, the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization
was established for the sake of NATO and NATO exists for the sake
of the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization. Well, founders
of these organizations will be horrified to hear of this "NATO for
Russia's sake" hypothesis.
Presentation of the The National Security Concept took place in the
Yerevan State University, the other day. Armenia's strategic partner,
Russia was mentioned only on the 21st page of the document. Georgia,
the country where the Armenian population of Djavahetia is under
constant pressure, on the first. Richard Kirakosjan, an American
military expert who visited YE not long ago, said that "Armenia's
dependence on Russia is a major obstacle preventing its integration
into European structures. Instead of emulating relations, Armenia
should become more self-sufficient." That's what official Yerevan
has been doing.
by Karen Abramjan
Translated by A. Ignatkin
Source: Severny Kavkaz (Nalchik), No 47, November 28 - December 4, 2006, EV
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
December 6, 2006 Wednesday
REGARDLESS OF THE SELF-PROCLAIMED POLICY OF EQUIDISTANCE FROM ALL
CENTERS OF POWER, YEREVAN IS ON ITS WAY TO FULL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
WITH NATO; Armenia drifts in the direction of NATO.
NATO Command has planned a major strategic exercise for April 27 -
May 13, 2007. Joint Aspiration'2007 will be coordinated from the
territories of Armenia and Germany. According to Colonel Samvel Atojan,
Chief of the Directorate of Communications and Automatic Systems of the
Armenian General Staff, the exercise will be run "to maintain reliable
communications between the armies of the participants." The exercise
planning conference that took place in the middle of November, in
Yerevan, attracted more than 260 servicemen from 38 countries. Armenia
has participated in the exercises of the series since 2002, first as an
observer and as a full member afterwards. Atojan made special emphasis
on the choice of Armenia as the location of the planning conference.
Observers comment in the meantime that Yerevan's once veiled
geopolitical flirting with the Alliance is rapidly evolving
into a devastating obsession. Regardless of the self-proclaimed
policy of "complementary" equidistance from all centers of power,
representatives of the Armenian establishment angle for what is known
as Mr. Saakashvili's position. Namely, for full strategic partnership
with the Alliance. The only difference is that the president of
Georgia openly admits it while the Armenian authorities camouflage
their drift with not particularly convincing rhetoric on "advantages"
of the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization. Defense Minister
Serj Sarkisjan returned from Iraq the other day and said, "I've always
maintained that Armenia's membership in the CIS Collective Security
Treaty Organization and cooperation with NATO are a continuation of
our mutually complementary policy. Military-political blocs are set
up for and not against something..." This is it then.
Judging by his logic, the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization
was established for the sake of NATO and NATO exists for the sake
of the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization. Well, founders
of these organizations will be horrified to hear of this "NATO for
Russia's sake" hypothesis.
Presentation of the The National Security Concept took place in the
Yerevan State University, the other day. Armenia's strategic partner,
Russia was mentioned only on the 21st page of the document. Georgia,
the country where the Armenian population of Djavahetia is under
constant pressure, on the first. Richard Kirakosjan, an American
military expert who visited YE not long ago, said that "Armenia's
dependence on Russia is a major obstacle preventing its integration
into European structures. Instead of emulating relations, Armenia
should become more self-sufficient." That's what official Yerevan
has been doing.