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DEESCALATIOJN
BY: Onur Salmanov
Novye Izvestia
March 15, 2012
Russia
[translated from Russian]
AZERBAIJANI MINISTER PROMISES THAT HIS COUNTRY WILL NOT BE USED AS
A STAGING POST; Azerbaijani defense minister visited Iran.
Visiting Tehran, Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev said that
the territory of his country was not to be used as a staging post
in an invasion into Iran. Speculations that the Americans or Israeli
will want to use Azerbaijan as a launchpad for an attack on Iranian
nuclear sites began after sale of a major consignment of weapons by
Israel to the Caucasus.
The relations between Iran and Azerbaijan leave much to be desired
at this time. Its own relations with the Western community rapidly
deteriorating, Tehran suspects its northern neighbor of being too
close to the West. European and American politicians in the meantime
speak of a preemptive strike at Iranian nuclear sites more and more
often. The latest parliamentary election in Iran strengthened the
positions of Ajatollah Ali Hamenei who is radical even by President
Mahmud Ahmadinejad's standards. Ahmadinejad's positions are quite
shaky at this point. Certain developments even indicate the possibility
of impeachment.
Abiyev apparently visited Iran to try and deescalate tension in
the bilateral relations. Meeting with his Iranian counterpart
Ahmed Vahidi, he said that there were enemies trying to drive a
wedge between Iran and Azerbaijan but these countries and their
leaders knew better than raise to take the bait. Abiyev even called
Iranian-Azerbaijani military-technical cooperation a "key to regional
peace and stability." Vahidi replied in the same flowery manner. He
said that Iran was prepared to offer Azerbaijan some military hardware.
Political scientist Vafa Guluzade said, "Iran is disturbed by
the possibility that Azerbaijan just might go ahead and make its
territory available to the Americans and Israelis intent on attacking
Iran. And the recent Azerbaijani-Israeli arms deal strengthened
Iranian suspicions."
Azerbaijani and Israeli media outlets reported in late February that
Israel planned to deliver $1.6 billion worth of sophisticated unmanned
craft and missile defense systems to Azerbaijan... not to mention
specialists and consultants to help the Azerbaijani military master
them. All of that could put Iran to thinking about staging posts in
connection with a much feared attack from the West. In the meantime,
Azerbaijani officials openly say that there will be a different
theater of operations for the soon to be delivered military hardware.
They mean Armenia. The necessity to reclaim "the occupied territories"
from Armenia is the pet subject in Baku.
BY: Onur Salmanov
Novye Izvestia
March 15, 2012
Russia
[translated from Russian]
AZERBAIJANI MINISTER PROMISES THAT HIS COUNTRY WILL NOT BE USED AS
A STAGING POST; Azerbaijani defense minister visited Iran.
Visiting Tehran, Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev said that
the territory of his country was not to be used as a staging post
in an invasion into Iran. Speculations that the Americans or Israeli
will want to use Azerbaijan as a launchpad for an attack on Iranian
nuclear sites began after sale of a major consignment of weapons by
Israel to the Caucasus.
The relations between Iran and Azerbaijan leave much to be desired
at this time. Its own relations with the Western community rapidly
deteriorating, Tehran suspects its northern neighbor of being too
close to the West. European and American politicians in the meantime
speak of a preemptive strike at Iranian nuclear sites more and more
often. The latest parliamentary election in Iran strengthened the
positions of Ajatollah Ali Hamenei who is radical even by President
Mahmud Ahmadinejad's standards. Ahmadinejad's positions are quite
shaky at this point. Certain developments even indicate the possibility
of impeachment.
Abiyev apparently visited Iran to try and deescalate tension in
the bilateral relations. Meeting with his Iranian counterpart
Ahmed Vahidi, he said that there were enemies trying to drive a
wedge between Iran and Azerbaijan but these countries and their
leaders knew better than raise to take the bait. Abiyev even called
Iranian-Azerbaijani military-technical cooperation a "key to regional
peace and stability." Vahidi replied in the same flowery manner. He
said that Iran was prepared to offer Azerbaijan some military hardware.
Political scientist Vafa Guluzade said, "Iran is disturbed by
the possibility that Azerbaijan just might go ahead and make its
territory available to the Americans and Israelis intent on attacking
Iran. And the recent Azerbaijani-Israeli arms deal strengthened
Iranian suspicions."
Azerbaijani and Israeli media outlets reported in late February that
Israel planned to deliver $1.6 billion worth of sophisticated unmanned
craft and missile defense systems to Azerbaijan... not to mention
specialists and consultants to help the Azerbaijani military master
them. All of that could put Iran to thinking about staging posts in
connection with a much feared attack from the West. In the meantime,
Azerbaijani officials openly say that there will be a different
theater of operations for the soon to be delivered military hardware.
They mean Armenia. The necessity to reclaim "the occupied territories"
from Armenia is the pet subject in Baku.