MOSCOW’S POLICIES IN CAUCASUS ‘VERY DANGEROUS,’ WARNS ARF
Yerkir
Nov 25th, 2009
Hrair Karapetian, ARF Armenia Supreme Council member and chairman of
the parliamentary committee of defense and national security,
YEREVAN (Yerkir)-Armenian Revolutionary Federation leaders have
expressed concern over Russia’s recent deepening of military
cooperation with Armenia’s main regional adversaries, saying Moscow’s
policies in the Caucasus are becoming "very dangerous" and run counter
to a military alliance between Armenia and Russia.
ARF Armenia Supreme Council member and chairman of the parliamentary
committee of defense and national security, Hrair Karapetian,
told reporters Wednesday that Russia’s posturing goes counter to
the Collective Security Treaty Organization, of which Azerbaijan is
not a member. The CSTO is a Russia-led defense alliance between six
former Soviet States, which was established to counterbalance NATO’s
influence in the region.
Karapetian highlighted a plan of joint military activities for next
year that was recently signed by the defense ministers of Azerbaijan
and Russia. He said, "This makes us wonder, ‘What is the difference
between us and Azerbaijan?’ We are a member of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization, Azerbaijan is not. Is it worth deepening military
cooperation with a country whose representatives periodically make
bellicose statements?"
He said the Russian policy "…is at least strange and unacceptable
to us. It contributes to the development of an even more dangerous
situation," with regards to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Karapetian went on to deplore Russian-Turkish military cooperation.
Moscow is seeking to forge closer defense links with "a country that
still threatens Armenia’s security," he said.
At a press conference Tuesday, ARF Bureau member Vahan Hovannesian
said that Moscow’s policies related to the South Caucasus are becoming
"very dangerous" for Armenia.
The two ARF leaders urged Armenia’s traditional allies, including
members of the CSTO, of forging military relations with Azerbaijan
and Turkey, as they would shift the balance of power in the region.