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THE RUSSIAN/ARMENIAN AXIS
Strategy Page
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htlead/articles/20100824.aspx?comments=Y
Aug 24 2010
August 24, 2010: Armenia has signed a pact with Russia that, in effect,
makes it a protectorate of Russia. The deal extends the lease on a
Russian military base in Armenia from 2020 to 2044. The 3,000 man
Russian force in Armenia may be increased and Russia, in effect,
guarantees Armenia's security. Armenia needs all the help it can get,
as it is a landlocked Christian nation surrounded by three hostile
Moslem states (Turkey, Azerbaijan and Iran). To the north, there is
Georgia which, while Christian, has its own problems with Russia.
There are over nine million Armenians worldwide, making it clear that
most Armenians want to be anywhere but Armenia. But not everyone could
get out. Moreover, Armenians have been in Armenia for over 3,000 years,
and there is a certain attachment to the place. The Russians like
surrounding Georgia, and being closer to Turkey (an ancient enemy).
In return for this security, Armenia will have to follow Russia's
lead in diplomacy, and any other area the Russians feel is important.
Meanwhile, the Russians will provide new weapons and equipment for
the 43,000 troops in the Armenian military, and help arm an even
larger reserve force.
The only active enemy Armenia has at the moment is Azerbaijan. Both
countries continue to disagree over possession of Nagorno-Karabakh,
a 4,400 square kilometer district, full of Armenians, surrounded by
Azerbaijani territory. Technically, there has been a truce between
Armenia and Azerbaijan since 1994. But it has been a hot truce.
Between 1991 and 1994 there was a war between the two countries over
Nagorno-Karabakh, which Armenia won. Some 20,000 people died, and over
a million (400,000 Armenians and 700,000 Azerbaijanis) fled their homes
as Armenia occupied 31,000 square kilometers of Azerbaijani territory,
to connect Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. Most of the refugees were
from areas dominated by one group, who drove out the minority. Some
40,000 Azerbaijani civilians were driven from Nagorno-Karabakh. The
situation was humiliating for Azerbaijan, who saw it as yet another
example of more powerful and wealthier (via oil fields) Moslems being
defeated by a smaller number of armed and more capable non-Moslems.
The Armenians have survived, although surrounded by Moslems, for
centuries. But the Armenian economy is a disaster, particularly since
Turkey and Azerbaijan have closed their borders with Armenia. Since
the early 1990s, the best educated Armenians have been emigrating.
They join a six million strong community of expatriate Armenians. This
group can raise millions of dollars on short notice, and have provided
the emergency funds when needed for the fighting against Azerbaijan.
Some twelve percent of the 150,000 Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh are
armed and organized to defend the mountainous area, and are backed
up by even more troops in Armenia.
But Azerbaijan is making a serious effort to create an effective
military. Azeri defeats at the hands of better trained, led
and organized Armenian troops defeated were caused, in part, by
Azerbaijani corruption and double dealing among themselves. Moreover,
the Armenians have a military tradition going back centuries. The
Azeris are constantly working to redress the military balance, thus
the Armenian need for a Russian alliance.
From: A. Papazian
Strategy Page
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htlead/articles/20100824.aspx?comments=Y
Aug 24 2010
August 24, 2010: Armenia has signed a pact with Russia that, in effect,
makes it a protectorate of Russia. The deal extends the lease on a
Russian military base in Armenia from 2020 to 2044. The 3,000 man
Russian force in Armenia may be increased and Russia, in effect,
guarantees Armenia's security. Armenia needs all the help it can get,
as it is a landlocked Christian nation surrounded by three hostile
Moslem states (Turkey, Azerbaijan and Iran). To the north, there is
Georgia which, while Christian, has its own problems with Russia.
There are over nine million Armenians worldwide, making it clear that
most Armenians want to be anywhere but Armenia. But not everyone could
get out. Moreover, Armenians have been in Armenia for over 3,000 years,
and there is a certain attachment to the place. The Russians like
surrounding Georgia, and being closer to Turkey (an ancient enemy).
In return for this security, Armenia will have to follow Russia's
lead in diplomacy, and any other area the Russians feel is important.
Meanwhile, the Russians will provide new weapons and equipment for
the 43,000 troops in the Armenian military, and help arm an even
larger reserve force.
The only active enemy Armenia has at the moment is Azerbaijan. Both
countries continue to disagree over possession of Nagorno-Karabakh,
a 4,400 square kilometer district, full of Armenians, surrounded by
Azerbaijani territory. Technically, there has been a truce between
Armenia and Azerbaijan since 1994. But it has been a hot truce.
Between 1991 and 1994 there was a war between the two countries over
Nagorno-Karabakh, which Armenia won. Some 20,000 people died, and over
a million (400,000 Armenians and 700,000 Azerbaijanis) fled their homes
as Armenia occupied 31,000 square kilometers of Azerbaijani territory,
to connect Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. Most of the refugees were
from areas dominated by one group, who drove out the minority. Some
40,000 Azerbaijani civilians were driven from Nagorno-Karabakh. The
situation was humiliating for Azerbaijan, who saw it as yet another
example of more powerful and wealthier (via oil fields) Moslems being
defeated by a smaller number of armed and more capable non-Moslems.
The Armenians have survived, although surrounded by Moslems, for
centuries. But the Armenian economy is a disaster, particularly since
Turkey and Azerbaijan have closed their borders with Armenia. Since
the early 1990s, the best educated Armenians have been emigrating.
They join a six million strong community of expatriate Armenians. This
group can raise millions of dollars on short notice, and have provided
the emergency funds when needed for the fighting against Azerbaijan.
Some twelve percent of the 150,000 Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh are
armed and organized to defend the mountainous area, and are backed
up by even more troops in Armenia.
But Azerbaijan is making a serious effort to create an effective
military. Azeri defeats at the hands of better trained, led
and organized Armenian troops defeated were caused, in part, by
Azerbaijani corruption and double dealing among themselves. Moreover,
the Armenians have a military tradition going back centuries. The
Azeris are constantly working to redress the military balance, thus
the Armenian need for a Russian alliance.
From: A. Papazian