Azeri experts wary about relocation of Russian bases to Armenia

Yeni Azarbaycan, Baku
20 May 05

Excerpt from Mais Piriyev report by Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni
Azarbaycan on 20 May “Russia increases number of military bases in
Armenia” and subheaded “Can Armenia station military bases withdrawn
from Georgia?”

A part of the Russian military hardware and property in Georgia will
be relocated to Armenia, the chief of the Russian General Staff,
Army Gen Yuriy Baluyevskiy, has issued this statement. He believes
that it is possible to pull out the military bases within four years
if this happens.

Political expert Rasim Musabayov does not think this is very
convincing. He believes that under the [flank agreement on conventional
weapons] agreements in force, it is impossible to station over 220
pieces of armoured hardware in Armenia: “Armenia has already delegated
part of its quota to Russia and its [Russia’s] military base is
deployed in Gyumri. Armenia may accept some more Russian weapons and
ammunition. However, its opportunities are very limited.” [Passage
omitted: OSCE Istanbul Summit stipulates the pullout]

Political pundit Zardust Alizada does not think that the stationing
of the military bases in Armenia poses a threat to Azerbaijan. There
are nearly 3,000 Russian troops in Georgia now and half of them are
Georgian residents. These residents are both Armenian and Georgian. The
expert believes that they will not abandon their houses to move to
Armenia: “They will simply quit the army to find new jobs. There
remains ineffectual, obsolete and dilapidated military hardware [at
the Russian bases in Georgia]. Contrary to various claims, the might
and importance of the Russian military bases in Armenia are not high,
the expert considers. I do not think it is necessary to threaten the
people with the Russian military bases.”

Mubariz Ahmadoglu, the chairman of [the pro-government] Centre for
Political Innovation and Technology, thinks there are two reasons
why international organizations and superstates should demand that
Russia pulls out its military bases from Georgia: “First, they want
the military bases to be withdrawn from Georgia, second, there should
be a minimum amount of weapons in the South Caucasus. I think Russia
wants to play a game with the international community. The issue of
restricting conventional weapons in the South Caucasus is on the agenda
now and Russia and the OSCE are at loggerheads over this matter.”

Ahmadoglu believes that Russia will have to pull out its military
bases from Armenia one day as it will from Georgia. He thinks that
the stationing of extra Russian forces in Armenia will lead to serious
international pressure on official Yerevan. It is not ruled out that
international bodies will one day urge the Russians to take a decision
on the withdrawal of Russian military bases also from Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress