ARMENIAN FM: BUSH’S AGREEMENT ON PUTIN’S PROPOSAL MAY STRONGLY AFFECT AZERBAIJAN’S AUTHORITY

ArmInfo
2007-06-14 13:23:00

If US President George Bush accepts the proposal of Russian President
Vladimir Putin on joint exploitation of Gabala radiolocation station,
it may greatly affect Azerbaijan’s authority, Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan says in an interview with Armenian "Kentron" TV.

The minister says that the given proposal is part of big politics and
the issue must be considered in all its aspects. He also adds that
the proposal of the Russian party was not unexpected for him. "We
have no reason for concern about security. The matter concerns just
installation of a radar and not deployment of missiles. Nothing new
will be installed there," the minister said. Asked if it will raise
the authority of Azerbaijan, the minister said: "Although there is
also such opinion, I can say the opposite.

It may greatly affect Azerbaijan’s authority as it is big politics
where it is becoming a card. Moreover, the USA does not conceal
that all this is aimed against Iran, which even more aggravates
Azerbaijan-Iran relations. At the meeting with my colleague in
St. Petersburg I stressed that if Armenia were made such a proposal,
I would advise rejecting it not to occur in a complicated situation and
become vulnerable." At the same time, he says that the proposal does
not replace the American projects in Europe; it is an addition to these
projects. I doubt that "Russia will go on such an addition". One should
not forget Bush’s comments on the proposal. He called it interesting
and added that the USA considers it as an alarm for cooperation
between RF and the USA. The minister says that Armenia in its turn
also studies the issue and consults with the parties. We will make
public our position in future if we feel that the developments may
threaten to the policy or security of Armenia, the minister says.