Threat of Russian arms sales to Azerbaijan: opinions
Armenia’s military equipment and offensive weapons are not in any way inferior to Azerbaijan’s, David Babayan, Spokesman for the President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), told Tert.am as he commented on Russia’s sale of weapons to Azerbaijan.
“Balance is a fundamental requirement. Otherwise, given Azerbaijan’s specific state construction philosophy, that state is sure to attack,” he said.
As regards the sale of weapons to Azerbaijan by Armenia’s military ally Russia, Mr Babayan noted:
“Russian-Azerbaijani relations are the two states’ business. I do not think they are aimed at Armenia or Artsakh because Azerbaijan and Russia have their economic interests. I do not think it is at the expense of Armenia or Artsakh.”
“Russia and Azerbaijan can deepen their economic relations. However, if Azerbaijan tries to destabilize the region, relevant measures on Russia’s part will keep Azerbaijan from launching a counterproductive policy,” he added.
He believes that Azerbaijan’s arms purchases pose a threat to the entire region, and all the states should realize they are dealing with an abnormal state.
If Russia or any of the other OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states is cooperating in the military field with Azerbaijan, they should guarantee that the weapons not be used against any state, particularly against an allied state, Armenia being the case.
“On the other hand, we should strengthen our army and defense system,” Mr Babayan said.
Since Armenia will be exempted from customs duties on military goods after joining the Eurasian Economic Union, Mr Babayan said that it will make economically much easier for Armenia to purchase military equipment.
Political scientist Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan regrets Russia’s sale of weapons to Azerbaijan, while Russia is well aware of Azerbaijan’s attitude to Armenia, which is Russia’s military ally.
“Of course, the weapons may sooner or later be used against us, but the sale planned for next year is that of naval weapons to be used in the Caspian Sea. However, most of the $4bn worth weapons are offensive weapons,” he said.
Although arms sales are business for Russia, Armenia’s government and the Armenian community in Russia are rather passive in dealing with the problem. The issue of Russia’s sale of arms to Azerbaijan must be raised pointblank.
“Of course, Russia can say that Azerbaijan can purchase arms from another state. However, I do not think it is a convincing argument. Rather, it is a justification,” Mr Melik-Shahnazaryan said.
With respect to Armenian-Russian military cooperation, he said that it is at a high level.
“We cannot allow Armenia’s armaments to be inferior to Azerbaijan’s, but our budgets are different and this competition is a heavy burden on us.”
As regards the possibility of an Azerbaijani-Russian military alliance in the Caspian Sea, Mr Melik-Shahnazaryan said:
“First, this is a mere proposal. Secondly, this is an alliance of five states, and reaching an agreement may take years. Thirdly, Armenia has nothing to do with ‘sea issues.’ It may even be of benefit to us because Azerbaijan will have to spend part of its military budget to settle ‘sea issues.’”
Hero of the Artsakh war, Major-General Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan believes that it is better that Azerbaijan purchase weapons from Russia than from another state. Azerbaijan not only purchases weapons from Russia, but also has specialists trained for its army.
“It is better for us if the process is controlled by Moscow because it is easier for us to speak to Russia than to NATO or Turkey. We can operate what we have very well, but they cannot. Not because they are dull, but because they have lost any desire to operate the military equipment. What should they do it for?”
Yes, Armenia has reasons for concern, but Russia is doing its utmost to maintain control of Azerbaijan.
“But Armenians’ security is guaranteed, especially after we have acceded to the Eurasian Union,” Mr Ter-Tadevosyan said.
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