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SECURITY CONCERNS: KARABAKH ISSUE ADDRESSED ON MARGINS OF MUNICH CONFERENCE
Analysis | 09.02.15 | 11:50
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow correspondent
The annual International Security Conference, which this year was
almost entirely devoted to the Ukrainian problem, ended in Munich,
Germany.
Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian, who last year
found it unnecessary to attend the conference, did take part in it
this year.
During the forum, Nalbandian met with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
(Igor Popov, of Russia, James Warlick, of the United States, and Pierre
Andrieu, of France). In addition, he met with his counterparts from
Croatia, Romania, Qatar and other countries.
The Karabakh issue was discussed at the margins of the conference, and
the Armenian minister did not make any special speech. The Minsk Group
co-chairs issued a joint statement in which they called on the parties
to return to talks on a framework agreement on long-term peace. Also,
statements were made by the chairman-in-office and secretary general
of the OSCE.
The Minsk Group statement contains a remarkable appeal to the parties
to avoid steps that could lead to a repeat of the incident of November
12, 2014 when during military exercises an Armenian helicopter was
shot down by Azerbaijani troops. Armenian experts in this regard said
that the appeal was addressed to Azerbaijan, which was conducting
large-scale military exercises near the Line of Contact last week.
The situation on the borders of Armenia and Karabakh with Azerbaijan
has significantly deteriorated since the beginning of the year.
Azerbaijani troops use the tactic of small sabotage activities and
inflicting "drip" damage. At the same time, the Armenian army announced
transition to the tactics of punitive and preventive actions. Since
the beginning of the year the Armenian side alone has had more than
a dozen victims.
Armenia is in search of a more "diversified" security. Russia is
considered to be the guarantor of Armenia's security, but Armenia
also has cooperation with NATO, even though Moscow prevents closer
contacts with the North-Atlantic alliance and supply of arms.
Between Russia and the greater part of the leading countries of the
world there is an ongoing strong opposition on Ukraine. One of the main
reproaches that are made to Russia is its interference in the affairs
of neighboring states and influencing their foreign-policy orientation.
Armenia is among such countries - on September 3, 2013 the president
of Armenian, after three years of negotiations with the European
Union on association, suddenly declared about Armenia's joining the
Russian-led trade bloc.
The same thing all but happened in Ukraine, and the current war there
is a continuation of Russia's opposition to Ukraine's integration
into Western structures - NATO and the EU.
The West is clearly supporting Ukraine, but many wonder if the same
support would be given to Armenia if its leadership pressed ahead with
association with the EU. Armenia too clearly yielded its security
to Russia. Now there are some unsuccessful attempts to establish
relations with NATO and, perhaps, get weapons.
On February 6, Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan received
UK Ambassador to Armenia Katherine Leach. During the meeting issues
related to the trial relations of Armenia-UK-NATO and regional security
were discussed. Great Britain would like to become a provider of
closer relations between Armenia and NATO. But it is not known whether
Armenia agreed to establish such a relationship.
A day before that, February 5, Minister Ohanyan met with Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General Nikolai
Bordyuzha. Discussed were issues related to the implementation of the
decisions of the December summit of the CSTO aimed at the development
of the military unit and the components related to regional and
international security.
This time there were more specifics - the CSTO is going to increase
the military component. In autumn the organization intends to
conduct large-scale exercises in Armenia codenamed "Indestructible
Brotherhood". As for NATO, there are still no specifics in this issue.
http://armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/60445/armenia_osce_minsk_group_munich_conference_karabak h
From: A. Papazian
Analysis | 09.02.15 | 11:50
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow correspondent
The annual International Security Conference, which this year was
almost entirely devoted to the Ukrainian problem, ended in Munich,
Germany.
Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian, who last year
found it unnecessary to attend the conference, did take part in it
this year.
During the forum, Nalbandian met with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
(Igor Popov, of Russia, James Warlick, of the United States, and Pierre
Andrieu, of France). In addition, he met with his counterparts from
Croatia, Romania, Qatar and other countries.
The Karabakh issue was discussed at the margins of the conference, and
the Armenian minister did not make any special speech. The Minsk Group
co-chairs issued a joint statement in which they called on the parties
to return to talks on a framework agreement on long-term peace. Also,
statements were made by the chairman-in-office and secretary general
of the OSCE.
The Minsk Group statement contains a remarkable appeal to the parties
to avoid steps that could lead to a repeat of the incident of November
12, 2014 when during military exercises an Armenian helicopter was
shot down by Azerbaijani troops. Armenian experts in this regard said
that the appeal was addressed to Azerbaijan, which was conducting
large-scale military exercises near the Line of Contact last week.
The situation on the borders of Armenia and Karabakh with Azerbaijan
has significantly deteriorated since the beginning of the year.
Azerbaijani troops use the tactic of small sabotage activities and
inflicting "drip" damage. At the same time, the Armenian army announced
transition to the tactics of punitive and preventive actions. Since
the beginning of the year the Armenian side alone has had more than
a dozen victims.
Armenia is in search of a more "diversified" security. Russia is
considered to be the guarantor of Armenia's security, but Armenia
also has cooperation with NATO, even though Moscow prevents closer
contacts with the North-Atlantic alliance and supply of arms.
Between Russia and the greater part of the leading countries of the
world there is an ongoing strong opposition on Ukraine. One of the main
reproaches that are made to Russia is its interference in the affairs
of neighboring states and influencing their foreign-policy orientation.
Armenia is among such countries - on September 3, 2013 the president
of Armenian, after three years of negotiations with the European
Union on association, suddenly declared about Armenia's joining the
Russian-led trade bloc.
The same thing all but happened in Ukraine, and the current war there
is a continuation of Russia's opposition to Ukraine's integration
into Western structures - NATO and the EU.
The West is clearly supporting Ukraine, but many wonder if the same
support would be given to Armenia if its leadership pressed ahead with
association with the EU. Armenia too clearly yielded its security
to Russia. Now there are some unsuccessful attempts to establish
relations with NATO and, perhaps, get weapons.
On February 6, Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan received
UK Ambassador to Armenia Katherine Leach. During the meeting issues
related to the trial relations of Armenia-UK-NATO and regional security
were discussed. Great Britain would like to become a provider of
closer relations between Armenia and NATO. But it is not known whether
Armenia agreed to establish such a relationship.
A day before that, February 5, Minister Ohanyan met with Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General Nikolai
Bordyuzha. Discussed were issues related to the implementation of the
decisions of the December summit of the CSTO aimed at the development
of the military unit and the components related to regional and
international security.
This time there were more specifics - the CSTO is going to increase
the military component. In autumn the organization intends to
conduct large-scale exercises in Armenia codenamed "Indestructible
Brotherhood". As for NATO, there are still no specifics in this issue.
http://armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/60445/armenia_osce_minsk_group_munich_conference_karabak h
From: A. Papazian