DM: Azerbaijan’s policy compromises security of the Caucasus

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
March 10, 2006 Friday

REPORT OF THE ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER: AZERBAIJAN’S POLICY
COMPROMISES SECURITY OF THE CAUCASUS

ARMENIA CONSIDERS NAGORNO-KARABAKH’S EXISTENCE IN AZERBAIJAN OR AS AN
ARMENIAN ENCLAVE AN IMPOSSIBILITY; Defense Minister of Armenia Serzh
Sarkisjan made a report “Priorities of the National Security Strategy
of the Republic of Armenia”.

Report made by Secretary of the National Security Council and Defense
Minister of Armenia, Serzh Sarkisjan, “Priorities of the National
Security Strategy of the Republic of Armenia” states that
Nagorno-Karabakh’s existence as a part of Azerbaijan or as an enclave
is an impossibility.

The document posted on the official web site of the Armenian Defense
Ministry emphasizes that Armenia views as a must availability of land
border between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia and international
guarantees of its participation in peace processes. Here is an
excerpt from the document, “International guarantees of non-renewal
of the war and safety of the population are also needed. The
“suspended” nature of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem and the policy
Azerbaijan is pursuing in connection with the conflict set up
symmetric and asymmetric threats to national security of Armenia. The
aggressive policy of Azerbaijan intent on a solution to the problem
through accomplishment of military superiority over Armenia poses a
direct military threat. This policy may destabilize all of the
region.”

The report points out that the constant threat prevents radical
reforms in the military sphere of Armenia and facilitates an arms
race. “It is with this purpose in mind that official Baku is
inflaming hatred of the Armenians in the Azerbaijani people,” the
report stated. “This position is not worthy of a country promoting
the European system of values. It only proves that the authorities of
Azerbaijan are going through the motions for appearances’ sake.”

When Sarkisjan’s report dwells on Turkey from the standpoint of the
conflict, it points out that official Ankara is promoting the
interests of Azerbaijan. Here is another excerpt, “Turkey is aware
that a fair solution to the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh is one of the
priorities of Armenian national security, and that the solution
favoring Azerbaijan will affect the international and regional role
played by Armenia and may even jeopardize the very existence of the
Armenian people. To accomplish all of that, Turkey is assisting
Azerbaijan so as to disrupt the military parity and set up conditions
for a military solution to the problem at hand. Tension in the
Armenian-Turkish relations is also ascribed to Turkey’s involvement
in numerous regional economic and transport programs that do not
include Armenia (like construction of the Baku-Dzheikhan and
Baku-Erzerum gas pipelines or a railroad connecting Kars and
Akhalkalaki). Promoted with help from the government of Turkey, all
these programs and projects aim at economic isolation of Armenia and
demotion of its role in the region. This policy encourages “the
policy of negation” on the part of Azerbaijan and strengthens its
militarism… Neutralization of these threats is only possible when
Turkey abandons its hostility with regard to Armenia. Quite an
effective role from this standpoint may be played by the
international community and particularly organizations like the
European Union, NATO, OSCE, Council of Europe, and the United States.
“Strategy of Armenia’s external security aims at these efforts and
activization of pressure that should be applied to Turkey.”

Source: REGNUM news agency, March 6, 2006

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress