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ISRAEL'S SALE OF ARMS TO AZERBAIJAN NOT AIMED AGAINST IRAN
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Azerbaijan
March 30 2012
Dr Brenda Shaffer, Israel's foremost expert on Azerbaijan, suggests
it is highly unlikely that Israel's sale of drones and anti-aircraft
missile defence systems to Azerbaijan in a $1.6bln arms deal points
to a bilateral defence pact against Iran.
If Azerbaijan is bolstering its defence systems, this is more likely to
be a display of strength intended for Armenia, which currently occupies
20 per cent of it territory, the expert told The Guardian on Friday.
"Azerbaijan is bordered by Russia, Iran and Turkey. Its economy
is dependent on the safe export of oil, which requires regional
stability," Shaffer said.
More than 30 per cent of the Iranian population are ethnic Azeris,
the expert said and added that Azerbaijan tries to maintain friendly
relations with Iran as it does Israel.
"It would be very wary of allowing itself to take a step that might
seen as aggressive," Shaffer suggests.
If there is a conflict with Iran, Azerbaijan will be the first to
suffer, she added.
From: Baghdasarian
Trend
Azerbaijan
March 30 2012
Dr Brenda Shaffer, Israel's foremost expert on Azerbaijan, suggests
it is highly unlikely that Israel's sale of drones and anti-aircraft
missile defence systems to Azerbaijan in a $1.6bln arms deal points
to a bilateral defence pact against Iran.
If Azerbaijan is bolstering its defence systems, this is more likely to
be a display of strength intended for Armenia, which currently occupies
20 per cent of it territory, the expert told The Guardian on Friday.
"Azerbaijan is bordered by Russia, Iran and Turkey. Its economy
is dependent on the safe export of oil, which requires regional
stability," Shaffer said.
More than 30 per cent of the Iranian population are ethnic Azeris,
the expert said and added that Azerbaijan tries to maintain friendly
relations with Iran as it does Israel.
"It would be very wary of allowing itself to take a step that might
seen as aggressive," Shaffer suggests.
If there is a conflict with Iran, Azerbaijan will be the first to
suffer, she added.
From: Baghdasarian