PUTIN'S REPORTED VISIT TO MILITARY BASE IN ARMENIA VIEWED AS THREAT BY AZERIS
Azadliq, Azerbaijan
Nov 30 2013
Vladimir Putin's reported visit to a Russian military base in Armenia
is against Azerbaijan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay an official visit to Armenia
on 2 December where he is scheduled to visit the 102nd Russian military
base stationed in Gimry on the Armenian-Turkish border. Some reports
have said that the Russian president's visit will start from the
Gimry military base.
Azeri expert cautions against truce violation
Military expert Uzeyir Cafarov said that by visiting the Gimry military
base, Putin will demonstrate its support for Armenia, Azadliq newspaper
said. Cafarov also predicted clashes on the line of contact between
Azerbaijan and Armenia after Putin's visit.
"We must be extra careful regarding the situation on the front line
in January and February. It is possible that local clashes will take
place on the front line. Russia continues to play double games. We
must not give in to this and must bring into Russia's attention that
its position on the Karabakh conflict is biased," Cafarov said.
The expert also said that Putin's visit to Gimry demonstrates that
Russia is seeking to "strengthen its position in the South Caucasus".
"Russia stimulating regional arms race"
In the meantime, a pro-government MP Zahid Oruc blamed Russia of
the arms race in the region, private sia.az news website reported on
29 November.
"With this visit and by increasing the number of Russian troops in
Armenia, Russia is stimulating the regional arms race and pushes
others to this. This is a threat to the lasting peace in the region,"
Oruc said.
On 1 December, virtualaz.org also said that by visiting the Gimry
military base, Putin is trying to put pressure on Azerbaijan.
"Putin's visit to its colony [Armenia], which is ready to give up its
independence for the sake of security, is a message to Azerbaijan
that carries out an independent policy in the region," the news
website said.
It also added that earlier "pressures" by the Kremlin on Azerbaijan
and President Ilham Aliyev yielded no results.
Meanwhile, private Baki Xabar paper on 2 December quoted political
expert Elxan Mehdiyev as saying that Putin's visit to Gimry
demonstrates that "military security is the dominant issue in Russia's
policy". Mehdiyev also said that "Armenia is important for Russia as
it is home to its military base in the Caucasus".
[Translated from Azeri]
From: A. Papazian
Azadliq, Azerbaijan
Nov 30 2013
Vladimir Putin's reported visit to a Russian military base in Armenia
is against Azerbaijan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay an official visit to Armenia
on 2 December where he is scheduled to visit the 102nd Russian military
base stationed in Gimry on the Armenian-Turkish border. Some reports
have said that the Russian president's visit will start from the
Gimry military base.
Azeri expert cautions against truce violation
Military expert Uzeyir Cafarov said that by visiting the Gimry military
base, Putin will demonstrate its support for Armenia, Azadliq newspaper
said. Cafarov also predicted clashes on the line of contact between
Azerbaijan and Armenia after Putin's visit.
"We must be extra careful regarding the situation on the front line
in January and February. It is possible that local clashes will take
place on the front line. Russia continues to play double games. We
must not give in to this and must bring into Russia's attention that
its position on the Karabakh conflict is biased," Cafarov said.
The expert also said that Putin's visit to Gimry demonstrates that
Russia is seeking to "strengthen its position in the South Caucasus".
"Russia stimulating regional arms race"
In the meantime, a pro-government MP Zahid Oruc blamed Russia of
the arms race in the region, private sia.az news website reported on
29 November.
"With this visit and by increasing the number of Russian troops in
Armenia, Russia is stimulating the regional arms race and pushes
others to this. This is a threat to the lasting peace in the region,"
Oruc said.
On 1 December, virtualaz.org also said that by visiting the Gimry
military base, Putin is trying to put pressure on Azerbaijan.
"Putin's visit to its colony [Armenia], which is ready to give up its
independence for the sake of security, is a message to Azerbaijan
that carries out an independent policy in the region," the news
website said.
It also added that earlier "pressures" by the Kremlin on Azerbaijan
and President Ilham Aliyev yielded no results.
Meanwhile, private Baki Xabar paper on 2 December quoted political
expert Elxan Mehdiyev as saying that Putin's visit to Gimry
demonstrates that "military security is the dominant issue in Russia's
policy". Mehdiyev also said that "Armenia is important for Russia as
it is home to its military base in the Caucasus".
[Translated from Azeri]
From: A. Papazian