EXPERT: RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE IN ARMENIA POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS

News.am
13:50 / 08/17/2009

Russian-Turkish negotiations were followed by rumors that Turkey
can provide its territory to Russia for replenish the supplies of
its Military Base #102 in Gyumri, Armenia, in the future. However,
the Turkish authorities are refuting the rumors.

Azerbaijani media report that Turkey did not allow Russia to use its
territory for replenishing the supplies of the military base when
it was impossible to do through Georgia and Azerbaijan, with Iran
being the only way. The Azerbaijani military expert Ildrim Mamedov
even advised the United States to resume the Caspian guard program
"to find out the amount of arms Russia transports through the Caspian
Sea to Iran."

Talking to NEW.am, Ruben Mehrabyan, expert for the Armenian Center
of National and International Studies, made the following comment on
the situation: "The Russian military base in Armenia is a military
unit that remained here ‘through inertia’ after the cold war. Its
military purpose is most dubious in the context of Armenia’s defense
from Turkey. Turkey is a NATO member-state, and any platoon can move
only after the actions have been coordinated with Brussels. That is,
from the military point of view, the presence of this base is not
so well-grounded the more so that the 3rd field army of Turkey is
confronting it." Another matter is, the expert said, the political
component of the presence of the base. "This is one of the key factors
of Russian presence in the South Caucasus," Mhrabyan said. He pointed
out that the talks about the termination of arms supplies the Gyumri
base constitute serious danger. "Politically, it becomes dangerous
for Armenia: under the pretext of a ban on supplies to the base, any
supplies from Russia to Armenia can be terminated. Armenia and Russia
are strategic partners and military allies now, and it is Armenia,
not Russia, that is in danger," the expert said.

Mehrabyan also addressed the Caspian guard program. "The program is
intended to protect the future pipelines from terrorists and makes
it possible to control Russian-Iranian ties. Finally, Russia-Iranian
military cooperation programs are in conformity with international
law. I do not think Russia will allow any third party to control its
supplies to Iran and further to other countries. Russia will offer
resolute resistance. Will it succeed or not – it depends on the
sides interested in the Caspian guard program, particularly on the
USA. Armenia should just think about its foreign-policy priorities
once again," Mehrabyan said.