RUSSIA TO SIDE WITH ARMENIA IF THE ANOTHER KARABAKH WAR BREAKS OUT?
Today
http://www.today.az/news/politics/73205.html
Sept 8 2010
Azerbaijan
"I think, first of all, Dmitri Medvedev's [recent] Baku visit was
intended to show Russia's interest in normal relations with Azerbaijan
and South Caucasus as a whole, demonstrate that the country pursues no
imperial ambitions here and does not intend to threaten the strategic
and national interests of Azerbaijan," member of the Defense and
Security Committee of the Azerbaijani Parliament Zahid Oruj said.
Russia is concerned over growing anti-Russian sentiments in the
region. Moscow is aware that the mood of the Caucasus is formed in
Azerbaijan, and hopes to involve Azerbaijan in its own organizations
for military security in future, the MP added.
"Medvedev's visit was intended to strengthen Russia's position in
Azerbaijan. But the most important outcome of this visit for us,
I believe, is that the Russian foreign policy circles and political
elite are now giving up a previous condescending attitude towards
the Caucasus and Azerbaijan in particular. This is kind of foreign
policy victory for the leadership of our republic," the MP noted.
"Even at times when the border was not delimitated between the two
countries, there was no single armed conflict. Now Russia, recognizing
the inviolability of its borders with Azerbaijan, finally recognized
our status as a sovereign independent state," Oruc said.
With regard to self-assured anti-Azerbaijani statements the Armenian
side made after the extension of Russian military base's stay in
Armenia, the MP said, in his opinion, the political leadership of
Armenia and in its analytical circles are trying to divert attention
from the growing confrontation between the people and government.
"Sargsyan's regime knows that they have nothing to introduce to their
people as a grand victory other than this agreement. They claim Russia
will act against Azerbaijan, which does not purport to violate the
territorial integrity of Armenia and is ready only to liberate its
territory from the occupying army," Oruj noted.
The MP expressed confidence that extending this agreement Russia
does not intend to somehow counteract Azerbaijan, and for Russia the
presence of a base in Gyumri is a kind of barricade to the spread of
Western influence and NATO.
"So I do not think that if Azerbaijan starts to liberate its
territories one day, the Russian military will immediately side
with Armenia as it once happened. I am confident that Russia will
seek by all means to prevent the outbreak of the conflict. Russia
wants to get the conflict resolved through peaceful means because
Moscow is well aware that its participation in such a conflict means
inevitable arrival of the West in the Caucasus and the global growth
of anti-Russian forces in our region. So I definitely say Russia will
not let itself to be drawn into any anti-Azerbaijani machinations by
Armenia. And I'm sure that during the talks in Baku, Medvedev gave
clear guarantees about that," the parliamentarian said.
From: A. Papazian
Today
http://www.today.az/news/politics/73205.html
Sept 8 2010
Azerbaijan
"I think, first of all, Dmitri Medvedev's [recent] Baku visit was
intended to show Russia's interest in normal relations with Azerbaijan
and South Caucasus as a whole, demonstrate that the country pursues no
imperial ambitions here and does not intend to threaten the strategic
and national interests of Azerbaijan," member of the Defense and
Security Committee of the Azerbaijani Parliament Zahid Oruj said.
Russia is concerned over growing anti-Russian sentiments in the
region. Moscow is aware that the mood of the Caucasus is formed in
Azerbaijan, and hopes to involve Azerbaijan in its own organizations
for military security in future, the MP added.
"Medvedev's visit was intended to strengthen Russia's position in
Azerbaijan. But the most important outcome of this visit for us,
I believe, is that the Russian foreign policy circles and political
elite are now giving up a previous condescending attitude towards
the Caucasus and Azerbaijan in particular. This is kind of foreign
policy victory for the leadership of our republic," the MP noted.
"Even at times when the border was not delimitated between the two
countries, there was no single armed conflict. Now Russia, recognizing
the inviolability of its borders with Azerbaijan, finally recognized
our status as a sovereign independent state," Oruc said.
With regard to self-assured anti-Azerbaijani statements the Armenian
side made after the extension of Russian military base's stay in
Armenia, the MP said, in his opinion, the political leadership of
Armenia and in its analytical circles are trying to divert attention
from the growing confrontation between the people and government.
"Sargsyan's regime knows that they have nothing to introduce to their
people as a grand victory other than this agreement. They claim Russia
will act against Azerbaijan, which does not purport to violate the
territorial integrity of Armenia and is ready only to liberate its
territory from the occupying army," Oruj noted.
The MP expressed confidence that extending this agreement Russia
does not intend to somehow counteract Azerbaijan, and for Russia the
presence of a base in Gyumri is a kind of barricade to the spread of
Western influence and NATO.
"So I do not think that if Azerbaijan starts to liberate its
territories one day, the Russian military will immediately side
with Armenia as it once happened. I am confident that Russia will
seek by all means to prevent the outbreak of the conflict. Russia
wants to get the conflict resolved through peaceful means because
Moscow is well aware that its participation in such a conflict means
inevitable arrival of the West in the Caucasus and the global growth
of anti-Russian forces in our region. So I definitely say Russia will
not let itself to be drawn into any anti-Azerbaijani machinations by
Armenia. And I'm sure that during the talks in Baku, Medvedev gave
clear guarantees about that," the parliamentarian said.
From: A. Papazian