KARABAKH FOR GEORGIA: RUSSIA OFFERS ARMENIA A DIPLOMATIC DEAL
by Igor Dmitriyev

Source: Versiya, No 43, November 6 – 12, 2006, p. 9
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
November 15, 2006 Wednesday

MOSCOW PROMISED YEREVAN ASSISTANCE IN KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION
IN ARMENIA’S FAVOR IN RETURN FOR ITS SUPPORT IN THE RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN
CONFLICT; Russian-Armenian relations: mutually beneficial improvement.

Negotiations between the presidents of Russia and Armenia that took
place in Moscow last week marked a turn for a dramatic improvement
of the bilateral relations between the two countries.

According to official reports alone, Russia is expected to deliver
$26 million worth of munitions, weapons, and military hardware to
Armenia before the year is over.

According to what information this newspaper has compiled, Russia
promised Armenia assistance in the Karabakh conflict resolution
in a manner that will benefit Yerevan. President of Armenia Robert
Kocharjan is asked in return to support Russia in its deteriorating
conflict with Georgia. After all, the latter includes a whole region
with the predominantly Armenian population – Samtskhe-Javakheti. Mass
anti-government actions there (with highways cut off, for example)
will become a formidable element of political blackmail the Kremlin
is applying on Mikhail Saakashvili.

The Kremlin even suggested a solution to the main problem – that
of the transport corridor bypassing Georgia that is located between
Russia and Armenia. Moscow suggests a roundabout way across Iran and
the Black Sea. To secure its hold on Yerevan, Russia bought a part
of the gas pipeline (141 km long) between Iran and Armenia that is
to be turned on in late 2006. Russia already owns 90% of the Armenian
energy framework. Acquisition of the Armenian railroads and Armentel
(the only telecommunications company in the republic) is speculated
over. Along with everything else, the Kremlin can blackmail Yerevan
with the threat to start advancing the Russian-Azerbaijani relations.

After all, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is expected in Moscow
soon now.

It seems that the position of the Kremlin becomes decisive for the
future of Nagorno-Karabakh.