Baki Xabar, Azerbaijan
May 3 2013
The deployment of NATO troops withdrawn from Afghanistan in Azerbaijan
Russian politicians have voiced interesting ideas regarding
Washington's plans to deploy part of American troops in Azerbaijan
once they are withdrawn from Afghanistan. According to Russian
experts, the USA is trying to assure the world that the terrorism
focus has shifted from Afghanistan to the Caucasus. By doing so they
are preparing psychological grounds for the deployment of their troops
in Azerbaijan.
"The troops withdrawn from Afghanistan will be deployed in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan's large-scale operations in Nagornyy-Karabakh will be a
rehearsal of the war with Iran [as given]. Then, US troops will be
dispatched to Nagornyy-Karabakh with the mission to impose peace
there. Therefore, US troops will be deployed in Nagornyy-Karabakh,
through the consent of Azerbaijan, in order to impose peace."
Some politicians think that the USA will deploy its troops in the
South Caucasus, more precisely in Azerbaijan. They say that this will
automatically strengthen the White House's positions in the region.
To what extent do these theories hold water?
US troops deployment in Azerbaijan "impossible"
Military expert Uzeyir Cafarov told Baki-Xabar that the opinions
voiced over the deployment of the US troops in Azerbaijan cannot be
taken seriously. According to the expert, such measures would cause
Russia's and Iran's discontent: "undoubtedly, if Azerbaijan takes
measures aimed at the deployment of US troops in Azerbaijan, Russia
will not accept this with calm. Iran is another country that will be
concerned with the situation because Iran, more than any other
country, is wary of American presence in the region. Therefore, if the
USA deploys its troops in Azerbaijan Iran will react very
aggressively. Consequently, I do not think that Azerbaijan will take
such a decision. In order to do so it would have to meet certain
conditions which are absent at the moment. All in all, there are no
grounds to assume that the US troops withdrawn from Afghanistan will
be deployed in Azerbaijan.
In order to deploy US troops in Azerbaijan, it would be necessary to
amend the current legislation to provide a legal basis for this. Only
after that would it be possible to station US troops in Azerbaijan:
"The deployment of US troops in Azerbaijan is possible only
theoretically because it is not a simple issue. There are specific
provisions in the Azerbaijani Concept of Security and the Military
Doctrine. We cannot apply changes [to these documents] after we deploy
the troops in the country. This issue would need to be discussed in
parliament. Only in that case would we be able to say that there was a
grain of truth in what the Russian politicians said.
Russian politicians "undermining" Azerbaijan's interests
According to Cafarov, Russian politicians are trying to misinform the
public and undermine Azerbaijan's interests. At the moment, their
allegations are absolutely groundless. It is part of Russia's policy
towards Azerbaijan in recent years. Russia occasionally disseminates
such groundless information. One country cannot exert pressure on
another using its military advantage. Therefore, in this sense, Russia
is exerting pressure on Azerbaijan. Previously, Russia stationed its
troops near the border with Azerbaijan. They justified this by
antiterrorism operations. At the time, Americans could have said that
Russia was planning to occupy Azerbaijan. It is a different time now.
The expert said that the US troops that will be withdrawn from
Afghanistan will not be deployed in Azerbaijan.
"The troops that will be withdrawn from Afghanistan will travel via
Azerbaijan. No one denies this, but it is impossible to keep these
troops in Azerbaijan," he said.
[Translated from Azeri]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
May 3 2013
The deployment of NATO troops withdrawn from Afghanistan in Azerbaijan
Russian politicians have voiced interesting ideas regarding
Washington's plans to deploy part of American troops in Azerbaijan
once they are withdrawn from Afghanistan. According to Russian
experts, the USA is trying to assure the world that the terrorism
focus has shifted from Afghanistan to the Caucasus. By doing so they
are preparing psychological grounds for the deployment of their troops
in Azerbaijan.
"The troops withdrawn from Afghanistan will be deployed in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan's large-scale operations in Nagornyy-Karabakh will be a
rehearsal of the war with Iran [as given]. Then, US troops will be
dispatched to Nagornyy-Karabakh with the mission to impose peace
there. Therefore, US troops will be deployed in Nagornyy-Karabakh,
through the consent of Azerbaijan, in order to impose peace."
Some politicians think that the USA will deploy its troops in the
South Caucasus, more precisely in Azerbaijan. They say that this will
automatically strengthen the White House's positions in the region.
To what extent do these theories hold water?
US troops deployment in Azerbaijan "impossible"
Military expert Uzeyir Cafarov told Baki-Xabar that the opinions
voiced over the deployment of the US troops in Azerbaijan cannot be
taken seriously. According to the expert, such measures would cause
Russia's and Iran's discontent: "undoubtedly, if Azerbaijan takes
measures aimed at the deployment of US troops in Azerbaijan, Russia
will not accept this with calm. Iran is another country that will be
concerned with the situation because Iran, more than any other
country, is wary of American presence in the region. Therefore, if the
USA deploys its troops in Azerbaijan Iran will react very
aggressively. Consequently, I do not think that Azerbaijan will take
such a decision. In order to do so it would have to meet certain
conditions which are absent at the moment. All in all, there are no
grounds to assume that the US troops withdrawn from Afghanistan will
be deployed in Azerbaijan.
In order to deploy US troops in Azerbaijan, it would be necessary to
amend the current legislation to provide a legal basis for this. Only
after that would it be possible to station US troops in Azerbaijan:
"The deployment of US troops in Azerbaijan is possible only
theoretically because it is not a simple issue. There are specific
provisions in the Azerbaijani Concept of Security and the Military
Doctrine. We cannot apply changes [to these documents] after we deploy
the troops in the country. This issue would need to be discussed in
parliament. Only in that case would we be able to say that there was a
grain of truth in what the Russian politicians said.
Russian politicians "undermining" Azerbaijan's interests
According to Cafarov, Russian politicians are trying to misinform the
public and undermine Azerbaijan's interests. At the moment, their
allegations are absolutely groundless. It is part of Russia's policy
towards Azerbaijan in recent years. Russia occasionally disseminates
such groundless information. One country cannot exert pressure on
another using its military advantage. Therefore, in this sense, Russia
is exerting pressure on Azerbaijan. Previously, Russia stationed its
troops near the border with Azerbaijan. They justified this by
antiterrorism operations. At the time, Americans could have said that
Russia was planning to occupy Azerbaijan. It is a different time now.
The expert said that the US troops that will be withdrawn from
Afghanistan will not be deployed in Azerbaijan.
"The troops that will be withdrawn from Afghanistan will travel via
Azerbaijan. No one denies this, but it is impossible to keep these
troops in Azerbaijan," he said.
[Translated from Azeri]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress