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ARMENIA - NATO'S FOOTHOLD
Hakob Badalyan
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/27967
Comments - Tuesday, 06 November 2012, 13:22
James Appathurai, the Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political
Affairs and Security Policy and NATO Secretary General's Special
Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, stated that NATO
seeks to increase its presence in the South Caucasus. In addition, not
only the statement itself is interesting but the fact that Appathurai
made the statement in Yerevan during the NATO-Armenia meeting. The
NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus
would hardly be so imprudent as to make a statement in Yerevan which
would be accepted with jealousy in Moscow. The Kremlin wouldn't like
the fact that Yerevan is becoming a platform for NATO to express its
ambitions relating to the South Caucasus.
Maybe Appathurai did it on purpose, maybe his statement flies in the
face of Moscow stating that Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia want to
use the possibilities provided by the North Atlantic Alliance which
is going to extend the "menu" offered to these countries.
In addition, it is noteworthy that NATO had dome something similar
in September. The CSTO military exercise was planned in September,
Putin was supposed to attend it. However, NATO Secretary General
Anders Fogh Rasmussen arrived in Armenia earlier. The visit was a
surprise which makes think that it was also an implication to Moscow.
The interesting thing is why NATO chose Armenia as the place to deal
with Russia. Does that mean that Armenia is the only pillar of the
Russian policy in the Southern Caucasus?
Hardly so. It would be a very primitive trick. Apparently, the issue
is that NATO views Armenia as a pillar for its policy in the South
Caucasus. Armenia is a key country for NATO.
It is determined by the quality of human resources in Armenia. The
issue is that the technological element will dominate in the NATO
tactics which is a particularity of NATO and the whole defense system
of the West. In this sense, Armenia can be not only one of NATO's most
effective partners but also the pillar of the technological strategy.
Not only strategic, security, diversification-related but also economic
prospects open up for Armenia, because the prospects of NATO's South
Caucasus policy suppose investments in innovative technologies
in Armenia and new production circles. As to Russia's jealousy,
one can understand it but Armenia's interest needs large-scale and
deep relations with NATO with new proposals because they contain new
prospects of new quality and modernization of strategic and economic
security of Armenia.
This is the fundamental issue for Armenia because even with the optimal
demographic pattern Armenia will hardly be able to compete with its
neighbors over the next several decades, particularly Azerbaijan and
Turkey. Besides, the Kurdish issue rises in the context of demography.
In these conditions, the axis of the security system of Armenia
should not be the human resources but modern technology. One citizen
of Armenia with his or her potential should be equal to several
citizens of Azerbaijan. For the solution of this issue, NATO is
a unique partner for Armenia, like Armenia is for NATO within the
framework of the South-Caucasus policy.
The issue of Russia's jealousy stands out. Moreover, Russia's issue
is not jealousy but the fear to lose its strategic position. But,
the deep and large-scale cooperation between Armenia and NATO does
not suppose any relation with Russia. Armenia has time to work on
Russia's attitude along with deepening relations with NATO.
The most important thing for Armenia is to follow its interests and
priorities, have a clear understanding of its interests and whether
they are short, medium or long-term. It should be able to define
the interest and be consistent with possibly the most effective
realization. In other words, if Armenia thinks that cooperation
with NATO stems from its long-term interest (no need to limit it by
membership) then Armenia should be able to explain all this to Russia
and not undergo Moscow's possible repression. And if a government is
unable to do that, it should leave since it is a threat to Armenia's
interest and security.
From: Baghdasarian
Hakob Badalyan
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/27967
Comments - Tuesday, 06 November 2012, 13:22
James Appathurai, the Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political
Affairs and Security Policy and NATO Secretary General's Special
Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, stated that NATO
seeks to increase its presence in the South Caucasus. In addition, not
only the statement itself is interesting but the fact that Appathurai
made the statement in Yerevan during the NATO-Armenia meeting. The
NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus
would hardly be so imprudent as to make a statement in Yerevan which
would be accepted with jealousy in Moscow. The Kremlin wouldn't like
the fact that Yerevan is becoming a platform for NATO to express its
ambitions relating to the South Caucasus.
Maybe Appathurai did it on purpose, maybe his statement flies in the
face of Moscow stating that Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia want to
use the possibilities provided by the North Atlantic Alliance which
is going to extend the "menu" offered to these countries.
In addition, it is noteworthy that NATO had dome something similar
in September. The CSTO military exercise was planned in September,
Putin was supposed to attend it. However, NATO Secretary General
Anders Fogh Rasmussen arrived in Armenia earlier. The visit was a
surprise which makes think that it was also an implication to Moscow.
The interesting thing is why NATO chose Armenia as the place to deal
with Russia. Does that mean that Armenia is the only pillar of the
Russian policy in the Southern Caucasus?
Hardly so. It would be a very primitive trick. Apparently, the issue
is that NATO views Armenia as a pillar for its policy in the South
Caucasus. Armenia is a key country for NATO.
It is determined by the quality of human resources in Armenia. The
issue is that the technological element will dominate in the NATO
tactics which is a particularity of NATO and the whole defense system
of the West. In this sense, Armenia can be not only one of NATO's most
effective partners but also the pillar of the technological strategy.
Not only strategic, security, diversification-related but also economic
prospects open up for Armenia, because the prospects of NATO's South
Caucasus policy suppose investments in innovative technologies
in Armenia and new production circles. As to Russia's jealousy,
one can understand it but Armenia's interest needs large-scale and
deep relations with NATO with new proposals because they contain new
prospects of new quality and modernization of strategic and economic
security of Armenia.
This is the fundamental issue for Armenia because even with the optimal
demographic pattern Armenia will hardly be able to compete with its
neighbors over the next several decades, particularly Azerbaijan and
Turkey. Besides, the Kurdish issue rises in the context of demography.
In these conditions, the axis of the security system of Armenia
should not be the human resources but modern technology. One citizen
of Armenia with his or her potential should be equal to several
citizens of Azerbaijan. For the solution of this issue, NATO is
a unique partner for Armenia, like Armenia is for NATO within the
framework of the South-Caucasus policy.
The issue of Russia's jealousy stands out. Moreover, Russia's issue
is not jealousy but the fear to lose its strategic position. But,
the deep and large-scale cooperation between Armenia and NATO does
not suppose any relation with Russia. Armenia has time to work on
Russia's attitude along with deepening relations with NATO.
The most important thing for Armenia is to follow its interests and
priorities, have a clear understanding of its interests and whether
they are short, medium or long-term. It should be able to define
the interest and be consistent with possibly the most effective
realization. In other words, if Armenia thinks that cooperation
with NATO stems from its long-term interest (no need to limit it by
membership) then Armenia should be able to explain all this to Russia
and not undergo Moscow's possible repression. And if a government is
unable to do that, it should leave since it is a threat to Armenia's
interest and security.
From: Baghdasarian