Russian military facilities in Gabala and Gyumri

After the meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia in Sochi, where both sides restated the high level of relations between the countries, the deputy minister of Armenia, David Tonoyan, made a statement, which should cool the ardor of supporters of Russian-Azerbaijani cooperation. “The use of the Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan by Russia doesn’t contradict the security interests of Armenia and improves the situation in the region. Considering the strategic character of Armenian-Russian relations, use of the Gabala radar station by Russia doesn’t contradict the interests of the security of Armenia,” Tonoyan said in an interview, ITAR-TASS reported. The agency reminds that Russia will complete reconstruction of the radar station, which is leased by Moscow in Azerbaijan, in two years.

The implied sense of the statement is that Russia remains a strategic ally of Armenia in any case. Even the fact of presence of a part of Russian missile attack warning system in Azerbaijan doesn’t mean support of Baku position by Moscow. Reasons for paying attention to cooperation with Moscow are obvious, especially in the context of absence of a Russian base in Armenia. Moscow and Yerevan signed the protocol on amendments to bilateral treaty on the Russian military base in Gyumri of 1995, devoted to prolongation of the document. Period of the document’s validity of 1995 is 25 years. Now the document will function for 49 years (from 1995). Russia is on duty to provide Armenia with modern armament and military machines.

According to experts, the treaty on prolongation of leasing of the Russian military base in Gyumiri is aimed at widening and improving of Russian influence in the region. However, in fact presence of the Russian base in Armenia wouldn’t influence stability in the region negatively, notwithstanding all Armenian ambitions. Moscow has stressed many times that the military base in Armenia doesn’t threaten security of Azerbaijan. Nothing threatens Armenia, so there is no need to protect it. As for interference of Russian soldiers in case of military conflict in occupied by Armenia Azerbaijani territories, Nagorny Karabakh and seven neighboring regions are territory of Azerbaijan de jure, it is recognized by the international society. It is hardly Russia would interfere with internal affairs of its strategic partner in the South Caucasus. Relations between Russia and Azerbaijan have nothing in common with relations between Moscow and Tbilisi. Thus, Yerevan cannot expect repetition of August 2008 toward Baku.

Moscow has to accept growing role of Azerbaijan in the region. First of all, Russia is interested in economy and energy cooperation with Azerbaijan, and recent agreements in gas sphere prove it. During Medvedev’s visit to Azerbaijan the agreement between SOCAR and Gazprom was signed. It stipulates that from 2011 Russia must double the import of Azeri gas up to 2 billion cubic meters per year. Even though it is not very beneficial agreement for Moscow from economic point of view, it is aimed at diminishing Azeri gas at the EU Nabucco pipeline, which competes with Russian South Flow. Moreover, Baku is important for Russia as stabilizing factor in the North Caucasus.

Thus, it is nonsense to argue with Azerbaijan in favor of Armenian interests.

Comments of the deputy minister of defense of Armenia should have logic conclusion. Yes, Russian radar station in Azerbaijan doesn’t threaten security of Armenia, as well as Russian base in Gyumri doesn’t threaten the security of Azerbaijan.

Elmira Tariverdiyeva, Baku. Exclusively to VK.