ILHAM ALIYEV IS PLAYING A GAME OF HIS OWN
by Rafael Mustafayev, translated by A. Ignatkin

Novye Izvestia
What the Papers Say Part B
November 29, 2007 Thursday
Russia

HIGHLIGHT: Russia and Azerbaijan sign a military cooperation plan
for 2008; A bilateral military cooperation plan between Russia and
Azerbaijan was signed during Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov’s
visit to Baku this week. Azeri sources said Baku isn’t exactly happy
with Russian arms exports to Armenia.

A bilateral military cooperation plan between Russia and Azerbaijan
was signed during Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov’s visit to Baku
this week.

Serdyukov’s Azeri counterpart Safar Abiyev complained during the
talks that "the international community and CIS countries aren’t
stating their views on Armenia’s occupationist policy [with regard
to Nagorno-Karabakh." Off the record, Azeri sources said Baku isn’t
exactly happy with Russian arms exports to Armenia. The government
of Azerbaijan was particularly disturbed to learn that some arms and
military hardware withdrawn from the Russian military base in Batumi
(Georgia) ended up at the Russian base in Gyumri (Armenia) and in
the Armenian regular army. (Unlike Azerbaijan, Armenia is Russia’s
ally in the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization.)

Moscow was disappointed by Azeri Interior Minister Ramil Usubov’s
support of the request from his Georgian counterpart Ivane Merabishvili
to provide whatever equipment is needed to disperse protest rallies
in Tbilisi.