ARMENIAN POLITICIAN: BAKU PARTNERSHIP WITH TURKEY AND GEORGIA THREATENS TO TURN INTO FRIENDSHIP AGAINST RUSSIA

18:18 12/28/2006

One should not expect coolness in Azerbaijani-Russian relations, leader
of the Armenian opposition National Unity Party Artashes Geghamyan
said commenting on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s CIS policy,
refusal from the Russian gas and the decision to suspend broadcasting
of two Russian TV-channels since 2007.

"Azerbaijan just wants to put a good face on things and try to sell gas
to Georgia bypassing Russia. However, it failed, and Baku decided to
resort to economic blackmailing threatening to decrease oil supplies
to Russia. At the same time, the strategic partnership between Turkey
and Georgia is fraught with the danger of turning into friendship
against Russia. The gas issue is nothing but fuss on the eve of the
new year. Ukraine tried to boost a similar situation and create a
pseudo-economic crisis on the eve of 2006. The same thing is with
Belarus, it is also indignant at raising the price for Russian gas.

However, it will bring no good," the Armenian politician
believes. "Russian President Vladimir Putin’s well-considered policy
is adequate and realistic, and all Russia’s actions are based on
its intention to become a WTO member. And WTO membership requires
establishing market relations in the energy market and refusal from
selective pricing. If the selective principle had not been applied to
the strategic partner of Russia – Armenia, why should it be applied
to Georgia, Azerbaijan or Moldova," Geghamyan rhetorically asked.