THERE ARE CAVITIES IN THE CFE
by S. Rzaev, N. Aliev

Agency WPS
Source: Echo (Baku), July 17, 2007, p. EV
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
July 23, 2007 Monday

Azerbaijan cannot stay indifferent to the decision of Russia to suspend
the observance of CFE conditions because of the Russian base in Armenia

OFFICIAL BAKU HAS VOICED ITS STANCE REGARDING THE CFE: ARMENIA BREACHES
ALL ESTABLISHED QUOTAS; The Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE)
has cavities. It is also necessary to work out mechanisms that allow
for the avoidance of gross violations of CFE terms as happens in the
case of Armenia. Khazar Ibragim, director of the press service of the
Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan, said this yesterday in an interview to
Echo, speaking about the stance of Baku regarding the CFE. Thus, the
Foreign Ministry remarks that there are no plans to withdraw from the
CFE now but Azerbaijan advocates a certain correction of the document.

The Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE) has cavities. It is
also necessary to work out mechanisms that allow for the avoidance
of gross violations of CFE terms as happens in the case of Armenia.

Khazar Ibragim, director of the press service of the Foreign Ministry
of Azerbaijan, said this yesterday in an interview to Echo, speaking
about the stance of Baku regarding the CFE. Thus, the Foreign Ministry
remarks that there are no plans to withdraw from the CFE now but
Azerbaijan advocates a certain correction of the document.

Yesterday, representatives of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan
called the decision of Russia to suspend the observance of CFE
conditions a sovereign right of Moscow. When asked if Azerbaijan,
having a state border with Russia, took the latest decision of the
Kremlin as a threat, the Foreign Ministry preferred to emphasize that
in this case, "we have borders with a large friendly state." Along
with this, the Ministry believes that the decision of Moscow cannot
leave Azerbaijan indifferent because Russia has its presence in the
South Caucasus, in Armenia. The director of the press service stresses,
"Thus there appears a certain element that is beyond the perimeters of
the borders of Russia." That is why the Azerbaijani party is studying
the situation very attentively now, says Ibragim.

According to him, Azerbaijan does not plan to quit the CFE now. In any
case, Ibragim points out that Armenia, one of participants of the CFE,
breaches all quotas established for Yerevan by the CFE.

Ibragim states, "Armenia is entitled to have 220 tanks but there
is information published by the leading media saying that on the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan alone, Armenia has deployed more
than 300 tanks." He adds that the situation is similar with regard
to all the rest kinds of armament quotas for which are outlined
in the CFE. Ibragim points out that there is an obvious breaching
of established quotas. Besides, deploying armament on occupied
territories, Yerevan also breaches on the quotas of Azerbaijan.

The Foreign Ministry agrees that Baku has been reproached in the
recent past for breaching its quotas outlined by the CFE. The head
of the press service of the Foreign Ministry explains, "All this is
connected with certain technical aspects and is applicable not only
to Azerbaijan." Ibragim admits, "We do not hide that we also buy
new armament periodically but, naturally, in this case, we raise the
issue of scrapping all armament simultaneously." According to him,
the speed of scrapping obsolete armament may lag behind and this
results in the appearance of some exceeding of the norms.

The Foreign Ministry says that the situation regarding Armenia is
quite different because Armenia grossly violates the CFE terms and
hides armament on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

Zakhid Orudzh, member of the permanent parliamentary commission for
security and defense, advocates a reserved reaction in this aspect.

According to Orudzh, Azerbaijan should reveal the facts of CFE
breaching by Armenia to the international community: "We need to have
inspections and monitoring and to make the relevant decisions, but,
unfortunately, this does not happen although we have enough evidence.

Parliament member Vladimir Timoshenko says that there is no need to
hurry in this aspect either. Timoshenko explains: "Moscow evidently
does not like the policy of the US in Europe. It used its sovereign
right and suspended the observance of the CFE by Russia. This is
its right and it is very difficult to speak about consequences now
because this is a political decision." Along with this, Timoshenko
says that several trains of Russian armament evacuated from Georgia
are located in Armenia now. Timoshenko does not doubt that "in case of
the beginning of hostilities between Baku and Yerevan, this armament
will definitely be used by Armenia." Thus, according to the expert,
all countries proceed from their own interests now and Azerbaijan
should benefit from the situation too. Along with this, Timoshenko
doubts that in the light of current events Baku will make a decision
similar to the decision made in the Kremlin. He adds, "In any case,
it is necessary to study and check all issues in the future. It is
necessary to have full information about the armament and potential
of our enemy, which is now Armenia." Timoshenko also says that there
is no need to hurry because he does not rule out that Russia may
hand all its armament in Armenia over to Baku. Timoshenko concludes,
"Everything should be diplomatic and the reaction of the international
community should be felt. I believe that it is not worth raising the
issue of withdrawal from the CFE now."