ARMENIA’S ‘SECOND ARMY’ LIKE ‘A GRAND PIANO IN THE BUSHES’

news.az
s/60881.html
Feb 4 2010
Azerbaijan

The Armenian army held another series of military exercises in the
occupied Azerbaijani territories a few days ago. Unfortunately, these
exercises have already become a regular happening. The international
community stubbornly keeps silent as if this is natural and as if
Armenia is not a member of international organizations and a party to
international agreements. The international community is dancing under
Armenia’s tune even more enthusiastically, droningly playing a mythical
melody about Azerbaijan’s militarism and Armenia’s good nature.

They say Azerbaijan has raised the military budget and purchases
weapons in large numbers, develops its defense industry, and constantly
announces the possibility of a renewed war (what a nightmare
for all Armenians!). In fact, Azerbaijan is engaged in all of the
above-said. There is nothing surprising or reprehensible about this
fact. What should a country, part of whose territory is occupied amid
the full tolerance of the international community and a state, which
has lived in a "frozen conflict" for 16 years, do? What to do if this
"icing" is more imaginary than real? And what do to if Azerbaijan,
reforming and equipping its army, complies with quotas of the Treaty
on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CEF Treaty) while Armenia has
an opportunity to keep its armed forces in the occupied territories
controlled neither by Azerbaijan nor international community?

The situation is too simple. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are parties
to the CFE Treaty, which allocates certain quotas for each country.

Azerbaijan is in compliance with its quotas. Armenia is also
in compliance, but geographically. However, there is a so-called
separatist Nagorno-Karabakh, whose weapons are not registered by the
CFE Treaty because the "Nagorno Karabakh Republic" is not a party to
the agreement or any other international treaties. Armenia constantly
stores heavy military equipment in Azerbaijan’s occupied territories.

Azerbaijan, of course, clearly sees what kinds of weapons they are
and is aware of where they are produced.

Thus, a situation which is incredible for the 21st century, but
also obvious, appears in this case: Azerbaijan is opposed to Armenia
which possesses "a grand piano in the bushes," in fact, an army not
controlled by anyone except the Armenians themselves and perhaps by
countries that maintain much a closer relationship with it in the
military sphere.

Of course, the military junta which seized power in Armenia profits
from coming up with militarist ideas among the population. "Azerbaijan
is threatening us!", "Azerbaijan is buying new tanks!", "Azerbaijan
conducts a parade!", "We must answer!".

One more awkward thing about this "second army" is that they will have
to withdraw it soon. Initially, the purchase and deployment of so
many heavy weapons in Karabakh looks pretty silly. In the case of a
blitzkrieg (even though it is less probable at the moment because of
Azerbaijan’s determination to follow peaceful means), these weapons
will be transformed into trophies. It seems impossible to display
one’s abilities in mountainous areas. The eternal threat of Armenian
utopians to attack lowland areas of Azerbaijan is nothing but hot air.

However, we do not need to worry about the safety of the Armenian
arms: in case of a war it would be in a more convenient place to be
destroyed or seized.

The international community has no accurate data on the number,
type or quality of weapons in the "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic." But
Azerbaijan sees everything very well.

What is surprising is that Armenia ignores the West and East by
holding military parades in Azerbaijan’s occupied Khankandi town and
the president of Armenia, a country recognized by the international
community, reviews illegal armed formations on the territory of
Azerbaijan, another internationally recognized country. The issue at
hand is that these armed formations are an integral part of the army,
the commander-in-chief of which is the president. The international
community looks either blind or mentally handicapped in this case.

Given the situation, I think it would make sense to raise the question
of an international inspection in the occupied territories. If the
OSCE is able to measure the length and width of the Lachin corridor
in the event of the signing of the peace treaty, then it should
not ignore the presence of the uncontrolled armed forces of another
country in the territory of its member state. It would be better also
to monitor cultivation and drug production, nuclear waste disposal,
environmental orgy and others of that ilk in these areas.

I can imagine how the Armenian junta will resist the inspection. It is
quite possible that the huge theft which benefited Serzh Sargsyan,
Robert Kocharian, Seyran Ohanyan and "other officials" will be
revealed.