YEREVAN—Recent reports that Russia supplied Azerbaijan with $1 billion in arms will increase the likelihood of war and is unbecoming of a strategic ally, said Armenian Revolutionary Federation political affairs director Giro Manoyan during a press conference on Tuesday.
“Russia must understand that the government, the people and political forces of Armenia are unhappy with its decision,” said Manoyan who argued that although the balance in Armenian-Azeri military aid was not undermined “it is clear that the likelihood of war increases when additional weapons are brought into play. This is not a behavior expected from a strategic ally.”
The ARF leader said that Russia struck the deal to maintain its influence in the region.
Armenian officials brushed aside reports of the Russian arms sales to Baku. At the same time, Russia and Armenia signed a new military cooperation agreement with provisions for increasing military assistance. Under a separate accord, Russia pledged to assist in advancing Armenia’s Air Force, as a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, of which Armenia is a member.
The opposition Heritage Party and the Armenian National Congress also expressed strong concern on Tuesday about the Russian arm sales to Baku.
Commenting on other regional concerns, Manoyan, during the same press conference, pointed out that Turkey, by slamming the change of power in Egypt has gone against the international community and will find itself isolated.
He argued that the so-called Arab Spring in Egypt was not successful and while major players in the region are working hard to contain the crisis so it does not spread to neighboring countries, Turkey has been actively pursuing a counter policy.
Manoyan warned that the events in Egypt and Syria have impacted the Armenian communities there and urged the Armenian government to “demonstrate flexibility in approach in pursuing its interests” in the region.
The ARF leader sounded downbeat about a possible end to the Syrian crisis pointing out that efforts to contain the conflict within Syria’s borders have been unsuccessful and that recent bombings in Lebanon are a strong indication that the conflict has spilled over into neighboring states.
Russian Arm Sales to Baku Worries ARF
YEREVAN—Recent reports that Russia supplied Azerbaijan with $1 billion in arms will increase the likelihood of war and is unbecoming of a strategic ally, said Armenian Revolutionary Federation political affairs director Giro Manoyan during a press conference on Tuesday.
“Russia must understand that the government, the people and political forces of Armenia are unhappy with its decision,” said Manoyan who argued that although the balance in Armenian-Azeri military aid was not undermined “it is clear that the likelihood of war increases when additional weapons are brought into play. This is not a behavior expected from a strategic ally.”
The ARF leader said that Russia struck the deal to maintain its influence in the region.
Armenian officials brushed aside reports of the Russian arms sales to Baku. At the same time, Russia and Armenia signed a new military cooperation agreement with provisions for increasing military assistance. Under a separate accord, Russia pledged to assist in advancing Armenia’s Air Force, as a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, of which Armenia is a member.
The opposition Heritage Party and the Armenian National Congress also expressed strong concern on Tuesday about the Russian arm sales to Baku.
Commenting on other regional concerns, Manoyan, during the same press conference, pointed out that Turkey, by slamming the change of power in Egypt has gone against the international community and will find itself isolated.
He argued that the so-called Arab Spring in Egypt was not successful and while major players in the region are working hard to contain the crisis so it does not spread to neighboring countries, Turkey has been actively pursuing a counter policy.
Manoyan warned that the events in Egypt and Syria have impacted the Armenian communities there and urged the Armenian government to “demonstrate flexibility in approach in pursuing its interests” in the region.
The ARF leader sounded downbeat about a possible end to the Syrian crisis pointing out that efforts to contain the conflict within Syria’s borders have been unsuccessful and that recent bombings in Lebanon are a strong indication that the conflict has spilled over into neighboring states.
As they should – and not only some random party.
I wouldn’t worry too much about that sale; I prefer the Azeri’s to get Russian weaponry rather than Western manufactured systems that are arguably more advantageous; the US is giving by far more sophisticated weapon systems to Egypt right under Israel’s nose. Armenia can defeat Azerbaijan hands down, and if God forbids another conflict begins those weapons Azerbaijan purchased will become property of the Armenian forces in short order…
Thanks to Erdogan’s disastrous politics in the Middle East, the whole region is in danger of war. He was never a reliable partner to the West, the major reason why Syria is lost to Russia, Lebanon and others may follow suit.
Of course it is a source of extreme worry. When your closest ” stratgic partner” starts feeding the enemies’s armies with weaponry, MD weapons, certainly it raises more than one eyebrow. Our stategic partner building the enemy’s arsenal ? Someone ought to be asking serious questions and getting serious answers. The Smercch’s are MD offensive weapons. Its capacity for causing massive damage is incalculable; Stepanakert, Sushi or any other town can not withstand several volleys of these WMD’s. What do we have, apart from bravery, spirit and love for the motherland, to counter the MD blows of the Smerchs’s ? If this means an armaments race, we’ll have to do with less butter and more guns. Chapels, monasteries, century old churches, invaluable spiritual riches and history, are not going to be enough to face the new crucibles. We need more and more sophisticated weaponry, technology and leading edge sharp superiority against the enemy. The first war was rather an infantry type of warfare, and intelligence, resilience and quality against overwhelming odds prevailed . This time the war unleashed by the Azeris will be a thousand fold greater in its magnitude, quantitatively and in its critical mass. Therefore, pull up our sleeves and strive for non compromising qualitative advantage over the quantity of the enemy. We must maintain and have superior technology and tactical, as well as strategical ,advantage at all times. The next war has to be short, swift and crushing for the azeries. Artsakh has to be an uncrackable nut to crack for the Azeries, just like an octogenarian trying to crack a nut with his teeth will only succeed in cracking and lossing all its teeth in the vain attempt.
Well said, Haik.
Had Russians not sold them the weapons the Azeris would have gotten them from other sources. It’s better Russia gave them the weapons not because Russian weapons are substandard but because now Moscow will now have more leverage over Baku. After all, Moscow is the fundamental reason why Armenia has a powerful, modern military today. For every weapons system Azeris acquires with their petro-dollars Russians make sure to provide Armenians with an effective means to defeat it for very cheep prices or for free. Armenian-Russian cooperation continues to grow year-by-year and this is the only reason why Turks are remaining on their side of the border. Therefore, the Russian arms sale to Baku does not disturb the balance of power in the region. I suggest all the rest of you “nationalists” to quickly come to your senses.
As a Armenian/American I ask our government to not put all his eggs in one basket and support Turkey and Azerbaijan . Armenia is where God gave man a second chance without a strong Armenia I don’t think God will give us a third chance. Peace to the World !!
Dear Eric, I am British/Armenian domiciled in London. I was in Armenia a few times (7 times) and I am proud being Armenian by origin. I appreciate your opinion but I have some remarks to do, based on my experiance of many years (60 years and plus). In my opinion, given the geopolitical status of Armenia, given the past conflics/wars and “the genocide”, today and tomorrow the ONLY protection and assistance can be granted to our nation by the ONLY Christian State (Russia) and nobody else…. during the period of 1911/1918, the Western Powers for their interests they let “down” the Armenians (West & East Armenia). As you said, let God protect our nation and PEACE to World…
Russia is sending a message to Armenia, watch your steps with your dealings with the West