Post by Bozur on Aug 18, 2009 18:18:09 GMT -5
Expert: Russian military base goes Armenia in danger
13:50 / 08/17/2009
Russian-Turkish negotiations were followed by rumors that Turkey might further provide its territory for Russia to furnish its #102 Gyumri military base with supply, however Turkish authorities are refuting this fact.
According to Azerbaijani mass media, Turkey refused to provide transit for Russian military base logistics in Gyumri, having Georgian and Azerbaijani territories closed, with Iran – the only option. Azerbaijani military expert Ildrim Mamedov even advised U.S. to re-launch the “Caspian guard” program “to inspect Russia’s weapon shipping to Iran through Caspian Sea”.
In the interview with NEWS.am, Ruben Mehrabyan, Expert of the Armenian Center for Political and International studies, commented on the situation: “Russian base in Armenia is a military unit, that &‘mechanically’ remained in here after the cold war. It military significance is also doubtful in terms of defense of Armenia from Turkey, as the latter is a NATO member-state and any marching of Turkish army platoon has to be agreed with Brussels. That is from the military viewpoint, the presence of this base is not so well-grounded, moreover the 3rd field army of Turkey faces it.” Another matter is, the expert stated, the political constituent of the base.
“This is one of the key factors of the Russian presence in South Caucasus,” Mehrabyan said. He pointed out that the talks about the seal of arms supplies stress the jeopardy of Gyumri base. “From political point of view, it becomes hazardous for Armenia, as under the pretext of a ban on supplies to the base, any Russian-Armenian logistics can be shut down. Presently, Armenia and Russia are strategic partners and military allies, and it is Armenia, not Russia, that goes in danger,” the expert emphasized.
Mehrabyan also touched upon the Caspian guard program. “The program aims at protection of the future pipelines from terrorists and enables control of Russian-Iranian ties. But eventually, Russian-Iranian military cooperation projects 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 oppose rigorously, and we will see whether succeeds or not – it depends on the parties interested in &‘Caspian guard’ program, in particular on the U.S. Armenia should give thought to its foreign-policy priorities once again,” the expert concluded.
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