RUSSIAN ARM SALES TO BAKU WORRIES ARF

Tuesday, July 9th, 2013

ARF political affairs director Giro Manoyan

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.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress