Turkish press: Armenia seeks Russian military help under 1997 treaty

Elena Teslova   |16.11.2021


MOSCOW

Armenia asked Russia on Tuesday to defend its territory from Azerbaijan under the terms of a 1997 treaty on friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance.

Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of the Armenian Security Council, told a local Public TV channel that a formal request is being prepared and will be sent to Russia soon.

The two countries inked the landmark treaty on August 29, 1997, and Article 3 provides for possibility of military assistance in case of aggression against either of the treaty's signatories.

He expressed Armenia's hope that if talks with Azerbaijan fail, Russia will provide "sufficient military assistance."

Liberation of Karabakh

Relations between the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

When new clashes erupted on Sept. 27, 2020, the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated several humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

During the 44-day conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages from the nearly three-decade occupation.

Last Nov. 10, the two countries signed a Russian-brokered agreement to end the fighting and work toward a comprehensive resolution.

On Jan. 11, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a pact to develop economic ties and infrastructure to benefit the entire region. It included the establishment of a trilateral working group on Karabakh.

The cease-fire is seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia, whose armed forces withdrew in line with the agreement.

Prior to this victory, about 20% of Azerbaijan's territory had been under illegal occupation for nearly 30 years.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS