Author: Andres-Papazian

FIORITO: THE ROOFTOP OF THE WORLD

Toronto Star

Aug 2 2010
Ontario

I overlook a flat roof.

In the morning I can see sparrows hopping. They remind me of those
cheap tin, key-wound toys you used to get at Christmas. Of course I
know it is the other way around; those key-wound toys of Christmas
reminded me of hopping birds.

There is a source of bread in the neighbourhood. Any time I want,
I can see the sparrows pecking at crusts. Any morning, when there is
enough to eat, is Christmas for a bird.

I overlook a flat roof.

There was a robin during the heat wave. Oh, I can tell you that on
the third floor where I work, it is all heat wave, all the time.

The robin sat, beak open, puffy of chest, with its wings tucked in
and its tail splayed, short of breath, bedraggled. It looked the way
I felt. I thought for a moment it might fall over.

Until it flew away.

I overlook a flat roof.

Grackles patrol the roof like proctors, ensuring order among the
other birds; they disapprove of everything.

I overlook a flat roof.

In the distance is a horse chestnut tree. This year’s crop of chestnuts
seems average. But I have not lived here long enough to tell what the
average is; ask me in 10 years about average production, and whether
we achieved our quota the year we first moved in.

I overlook a flat roof.

Now and then a squirrel leaps from the roof into the branches of
the chestnut tree. The leap is routine and instinctive, which is why
there is no need for a squirrel Cirque du Soleil.

The squirrels and sparrows tolerate each other in the same way that we
tolerate each other on the city sidewalks; you go your way, I go mine.

I overlook a flat roof.

The destination of the chestnuts, in the fall, is a fall that will
split their shells. The squirrels will bury as many of them as they
think they need.

As many as they think they need: a lesson in there somewhere.

If I crane my neck I can see, out the other window, a mulberry tree.

The mulberry produces red fruit. There are mulberry trees in Armenia
that produce white fruit, which the Armenians use to make a hot white
liquor. I was told they call it tuut.

“Tuut” is a suffix in the Far North, meaning “in the manner of”:
Inuktituut, for example, means “in the manner of an Inuk.”

Tuut, tuut, Tootsie.

I overlook a flat roof.

The thing about the mulberry, and the horse chestnut, and all the
other trees, is that they are profligate. They produce more than
enough fruit and nuts to feed the birds and the squirrels, and more
than enough for the trees to reproduce.

Nature is not grateful. Nature is not good. Nature merely is. A lesson
in there, too, somewhere, if we would only learn it.

I overlook a flat roof.

My neighbours pass by below. The difference between my old
neighbourhood and my new one – even though they are more or less the
same neighbourhood – is that in the old one, I rarely recognized the
people passing by, and no one said hello, and I lived on that block
for a dozen years, and I am not averse to striking up a conversation,
personally or professionally, at the drop of a hat.

Whereas, in the new neighbourhood, everyone stops to say hello. I
have no idea what explains the difference, unless it has something
to do with the dropping of hats.

I overlook a flat roof.

It is my horizon, and the ground in front of me.

Joe Fiorito appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

From: A. Papazian

DIFFICULT FOR ARMENIAN EXPERTS TO ACCEPT CURRENT REALITIES
Akper Hasanov News.Az

news.az
Aug 2 2010
Azerbaijan

Balash Kasumov News.Az interviews Balash Kasumov, general producer
of the Azerbaijani Television Version of the game “What? Where? When?”.

I would like to start our interview with congratulations. Batumi
has hosted the South Caucasus championship in the intellectual game
“What?Where?When?”, that ended with an overwhelming victory of the
teams from Azerbaijan. Nevertheless, the Armenian mass media (as
well as Russian ones) published information that the Armenian team
won the South Caucasus Cup in Brain Ring at the 12th South Caucasus
championship in intellectual games. But what has really taken place?

Armenians state that teams from Armenia won the Caucasus Cup thrice,
while teams from Georgia and Azerbaijan won four times. Can you
clarify this issue?

Yes, thanks Allah, our team (Anar Azimov, Adnan Akhundov, Anar Guliyev,
Rauf Najafli, Elman Talibov) won with 64 out of 75 possible points
and outstripped its opponents by 7 points. Azerbaijani experts-Faik
Huseynov’s team-were also second. The third place went to the
teams of David Rapava (Sukhumi) and Tigran Kocharyan (Yerevan). A
number of unofficial games “Svoya igra”, “Svoya igra” among teams,
“Svoya igra” in English, Brain ring and football were held beyond
the main round of the “What?Where?When” contest. Azerbaijan gained
victory in the first two disciplines: Rufat Abdulla in “Svoya
Igra”, our national team including Rufat Abdulla, Rauf Najafli,
Roman Orkodashvili, Vugar Zeynalov, Aziz Murshudli and Emil Madatov
won among teams. Georgians were leading in English and football,
while Armenians in Brain Ring. Armenian experts find it difficult
to reconcile with the realities and they console themselves with the
victory in an unofficial discipline.

Armenians say that before that Armenian teams won Caucasus Cup three
times, while teams from Georgia and Azerbaijan won four times. Could
you clarify this issue?

Armenian experts are often mistaken. Azerbaijani teams won the main
discipline “What?Where?When” six times (including the latest contests)
and won unofficial cup in Brain Ring five times.

Such a free interpretation of facts by Armenians is surprising,
isn’t it?

I did not expect different interpretation. This year they have
merely shifted the accents. After the first championship of the
South Caucasus, they distorted the results of the contest, made up
inexistent individual rating and declared themselves winners! Later,
they were exposed thanks to the contest organizers and personally
Boris Burda. Ridiculous, isn’t it?

I have to ask about the recent provocations of the Armenian side
connected with the conduction of the championship in this intellectual
game in the occupied Nagorno Karabakh. Why was it held there and is
there a guarantee that there will be no provocations of this kind in
the future?

News agencies published the decision of the International Associations
of Clubs “What?Where?When?) cancelling the results of the Armenian
championship. Everything is fixed in details there. I do not want to
go back this issue since the talks around it are politicizing the game.

And the last. Will Balash Kasumov’s team take part in the television
program “What?Where?When” on the First Russian TV channel?

The successful participation in the summer series ensured our team’s
place in the final series of 2010 to be held in winter of this year. I
hope our audience will enjoy our worthy playing and wonderful victory!

Balash Kasumov, general producer of the Azerbaijani Television Version
of the game “What? Where? When?”, captain of the Azerbaijani national
team in this intellectual game.

From: A. Papazian

“NEW WAVE-2010” SONG CONTEST ENDS IN JURMALA

ITAR-TASS
Aug 2 2010
Russia

RIGA, August 2 (Itar-Tass) – Armenian singer Sonna Shakhgeldyan has
won the “New Wave-2010” international contest of young pop music
performers in Jurmala and a prize worth 50,000 euros that goes with it.

Tatyana Shirko of Ukraine, who is second, received 30,000 euros and
20,000 euros for the third place went to Uku Suviste of Estonia.

On the first day, the singers performed a world hit, on the second
day they sang their country’s hit and on the last third day of the
contest they presented a song written specially for the “New Wave-2010”
music show.

The Viewers’ Choice prize went to the young Russian performer Yegor
Sesarev. A singer from Israel and the Latvian group “PeR” shared the
prize of the Jurmala City Duma. Dozens of Russian and foreign stars
performed on the stage of the Dzintari concert hall on the sidelines
of the three-day music festival.

The “New Wave” contest has replaced the Jurmala festival that was held
in the former USSR. “New Wave” is traditionally held on July 27-August
1. Seventeen performers from 12 countries took part in it this year.

Russian composer Igor Krutoi and Latvian musician Raimond Pauls are
the patrons of the “New Wave” contest.

Over nine year of its existence, the “New Wave” contest has opened
many Russian pop singers to the public. They include the Smashi group,
Anastasiya Stotskaya, Dima Bilan, Polina Gagarina and Irina Dubtsova.

Latvian performers have won the contest twice: the Cosmos pop group
and singer Intars Busulis.

Some of the “New Wave” winners later represented their countries at
the Eurovision song contest.

From: A. Papazian

BRYZA ‘GOOD CANDIDACY’ FOR BAKU AND US DEPARTMENT OF STATE

news.az
Aug 2 2010
Azerbaijan

Vugar Seyidov Azerbaijani public is right to be disappointed with
such an approach of the US legislators.

Assistance is certainly always good. No one is against such an
assistance, AzerTaj political reviewer in Germany Vugar Seyidov
said commenting on the repeated resentment of Azerbaijan over the
US policy in Karabakh. He also commented on whether the decision of
the US legislators to allocate assistance to the separatist regime
of Nagorno Karabakh may deepen this distrust.

He said in this case, it is quite clear that it is aimed not for
humanitarian purposes but to annoy our country.

‘This time it is about the form rather than content.

Baku would never be against congressmen spending the money of
their taxpayers on the residents of Nagorno Karabakh in condition
of observation of necessary ethic requirements: (1) assistance to
Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh must be supplied along with assistance
to Azerbaijani citizens; (2) the funds must to supplied to Karabakh
via Azerbaijani banking structures rather than directly or via Armenian
banks; (3) If the US Congress decides to provide assistance to Nagorno
Karabakh residents, Baku is right to be resented over the fact that
only Armenians are considered to be Karabakh residents. Does the
Azerbaijani community that suffered more than Armenians not need
such assistance?

Therefore, the third ethic requirement is a proportional distribution
of the allocated amount among all residents of the sphere, both
Armenians and Azerbaijanis who are looking forward the return to their
homes. I think Baku will not have much objections in case these ethic
norms are observed. On the contrary, we will be grateful to Americans.

Therefore, I would like to repeat that the matter is about form
rather than essence. Meanwhile, the pro-Armenian congressmen have
chosen this very form on purpose’, he said.

Seyidov also noted that Mr.Bryza knows the region well.

‘He is quite a successful candidacy both for Baku and the US State
Department. As for ANCA’s attack against Bryza, it is the favorite
method of Armenians- black PR, focusing attention on personality,
search of details from personal life, falsifications.

This proves the absence of arguments. I do not doubt that Mr.Bryza
will resist the personal attacks and we will soon welcome the new US
ambassador in our capital city’.

From: A. Papazian

RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY CONFIRMS READINESS TO SELL S-300 TO AZERBAIJAN

news.az
Aug 2 2010
Azerbaijan

S-300 air defense system Russia launches a new, more active military
policy on his South Caucasus partner-Azerbaijan.

Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports that the source in the Russian Defense
Ministry confirmed Moscow’s readiness to sell two divisions of S-300
PMU-2 Favorit anti-missile complexes. The amount of the possible
contract is at least $300m. Other facts also confirm the possible
deals.

According to sources in the Russian defense ministry, Azerbaijani
military students have been studying at the military academy of
Airspace Defense in Tver also studying anti-missile S-300. The source
considers that Rosoboronexport did it right to dismiss statements about
the sale of Favorits to Baku. “This deal is just being negotiated but
the government has already passed a principal decision on this issue”.

Chief of the Russian presidential administration Sergey Narishkin
arrived in Baku yesterday. According to Azerbaijani sources, during
the meetings he will discuss preparation for the upcoming September
official visit of President Dmitri Medvedev to Azerbaijan. It is
not specified whether the sides will the contract for purchase of
S-300 PMU-2.

According to general-lieutenant Yuri Netkachev, who was once deputy
command of the Group of Russian Troops in South Caucasus, formally
there are no obstacles for the sale of new modern missile defense
systems to Azerbaijan. He said the amount of the possible contract
($300m, almost 15% of Azerbaijan’s defense budget) for two divisions of
Favorits proves that they will be supplied directly from the plant: “It
will likely be the complexes which we prepared for supplies to Iran”.

Favorit is a targeted weapon for protection from possible airspace
attack against big strategic and industrial establishments.

Therefore, Russian complexes will locate in Absheron peninsula and
likely protect oil terminals of the BTC pipeline and Baku itself”,
Netkachev believes. He considers that the purchase of S-300 is just
related to possible resumption of hostilities against Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA TO IMPORT NEARLY 1500 TONS OF WHEAT SEEDS

UkrAgroConsul
Aug 2 2010

In 2010 Armenia is expected to import nearly 1500 tons of high
yielding variety of wheat seeds “Elita”. The Government of Armenia has
allocation 558 million drams (nearly$1.5 million) for these purposes,
briefed Gerasim Alaverdyan, Minister of Agriculture, Thursday.

He said that 950 tons of seeds will be purchased in Russia from “Luch”
LLC and another 500 tons from local producers at seed growing centers
in Gyumri and Etchmiadzin and from two private companies. Another 60
tons will be supplied from Russia without compensation for testing.

The minister said that the Government has approved funds for these
purposes as part of the recently approved program of plant growing
and seed production for 2014.

The program will upgrade the self-sufficiency level of the country
in wheat production from the present 37% to 55%. He said that annual
wheat consumption in Armenia is 650-720,000 ton. Local production
for 2007-2009 totaled 254,000 tons, 225,000 tons and 198,000 tons,
respectively. The quantity deficiency is imported from Russia, the
minister said.

From: A. Papazian

FORCED TREE FELLINGS

Aysor
Aug 2 2010
Armenia

A resident of the village of Mrgavet, Ararat region, informed Aysor.am
that the territorial inspector demanded from him to cut down the
huge poplar near his house since it “may fall down damaging the
power lines.”

“The Electric Networks of Armenia” CJSC Deputy Technical Manager Razmik
Khachatryan said that their company is responsible for cutting down
such trees.

While, village residents are often unaware of proper departments’
liabilities, and inspectors “facilitate” their business by laying
part of their work on residents.

From: A. Papazian

EU DOESN’T WANT KOSOVO TO BE ‘ROLE MODEL’
Aliyah Fridman News.Az

news.az
Aug 2 2010
Azerbaijan

News.Az interviews Klaus W. Larres, Professor of History &
International Affairs at the University of Ulster, now on research
leave in Washington DC.

It will soon be the second anniversary of the second Russo-Georgian
war. Do you think that the role of the USA in the South Caucasus –
in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia – declined after this war?

As you know, both Western Europe and the United States have a great
interest in that area, but at the same time it is of course still
regarded as a very touchy area, as the former Soviet Union, Russia,
still views it as the so-called near abroad and its assets as its
sphere of influence, but I think most of us Europeans and the United
States tread very carefully in that area. But as you know they have
huge interests particularly as far as energy resources are concerned.

And you are perfectly right that they were very distraught by the
Russian-Georgian war and believe that was totally unnecessary and that
both countries should have been able to resolve their difficulties
without resorting to war.

Did the war put paid to any chances of the post-Soviet states –
Ukraine, Georgia and, possibly, Azerbaijan – joining NATO?

That’s probably true. Even before the Russo-Georgian war NATO was
very divided over whether or not Georgia should become a candidate
for NATO admission. Particularly the German government, for example,
was opposed while the American government was slightly more in
favour. But I think the war, probably confirmed the fears of the
Western Europeans that if they took Georgia that could open up all
sorts of problems for NATO like a Pandora’s Box so I think the war
has probably delayed any possibility of Georgia or another country
in the area being admitted to NATO.

Some of the post-Soviet states, including Georgia, Armenia and
Azerbaijan, started negotiations in July on EU association agreements.

Do you think that in the future these countries could become EU
members?

The EU has great difficulties at the moment as the Greek crisis and
the global financial and economic crisis have had severe repercussions
on the EU. The EU now has 27 countries, 16 of them in the Eurozone
with Estonia joining the zone next year in January. Generally I think
that the EU is very much in a phase and a belief that they need to
consolidate and stabilize first internally before they can actually
admit new members.

I don’t think anyone has actually closed the door to new members,
but I do not think that the chances of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia
becoming members of the EU are very good at the moment. There may be
a long-term prospect, but certainly there is not a near or medium
term prospect. And I think that probably has less to do with these
countries as such as with the situation the EU is in at the moment,
the economic crisis, and the internal, maybe not crisis, but the
internal attempts to absorb the new Lisbon Treaty, to come up with
a diplomatic service; all these internal problems and the economic
crisis have made the EU very preoccupied with itself at the moment.

I would like to ask you about the recent decision of the UN
International Court that Kosovo’s secession from Serbia was legal.

Some experts say the ruling can be a precedent for other situations,
such as Nagorno-Karabakh. Are there any parallels here?

Well, that is of course a difficult area. You know that Kosovo’s
declaration of independence has been most controversial. And recently
the International Court of Justice of course said it was legal that
Kosovo split and became independent from Serbia. Most EU countries
would say that Kosovo was a special case and that it cannot easily
be compared to other parts of the world and I don’t think that the
EU would like to see the splitting off of other parts from other
countries, and it is of course difficult for other situations to
prevent Kosovo being used as a model case.

But one also has to see that perhaps Kosovo was a special case because
of the civil war in Yugoslavia, because of the very longstanding
desires and ambitions of Kosovars to split from Serbia, viewing
themselves as an independent country.

So I’m not sure that the Kosovo situation really can be easily
transferred to other parts of the world, but that is a very difficult
area and very controversial and I think a lot of people will actually
disagree over whether or not Kosovo can be used as a role model here.

But the EU, as far as I can judge, doesn’t want Kosovo to be used as
a role model.

From: A. Papazian

WHO’S PAYING SCHMIDT LAWYERS?

Cincinnati.com

Aug 2 2010
WASHINGTON

Complaint claims illegal free help

Rep. Jean Schmidt isn’t Turkish, and there aren’t many Turks in her
southern Ohio district, but the Miami Township Republican is deeply
invested in a legal battle stemming from the Turkish denial of the
Armenian genocide.

And that battle could land her in a heap of trouble.

At issue is whether Schmidt accepted what foes estimate to be at least
$200,000 worth of free representation from a Turkish legal group so
she could file two cases against former opponent David Krikorian,
who is of Armenian descent.

Schmidt spokesman Bruce Pfaff told The Enquirer that the Schmidt
campaign hired the Turkish American Legal Defense Fund to represent
her in both cases against Krikorian. Pfaff said she is in the process
of setting up a legal expense fund to pay the organization’s fees.

Krikorian, who ran unsuccessfully as an independent in 2008 and as a
Democrat in this year’s primary, has filed a complaint over this issue
with the Office of Congressional Ethics, which forwards complaints
of merit to the official House ethics committee for further action.

Investigations aren’t typically made public unless a sanction is made.

Krikorian’s complaint is dated July 13.

He alleges that Schmidt, or her campaign, accepted free legal services
from TALDF, which would be a violation of campaign finance laws or
House gift rules, or both.

If it turns out she violated campaign finance laws or House rules,
she could face a fine, a reprimand, or much more – such as an ethics
investigation.

Haven’t gotten the bill yet Since her first case filed with the Ohio
Elections Commission in May 2009, Schmidt’s campaign finance reports
have not indicated any payment or debt for legal services, or any
in-kind gifts from TALDF for the work. A separate lawsuit was filed
against Krikorian this past June. Again, no payments were listed in her
latest campaign finance report, which covers activity until June 30.

Schmidt spokesman Pfaff said that’s because the cases are still going
on. He turned down a request to speak to the congresswoman directly.

“I don’t believe that there has been a bill for their services to
this point,” he said, adding that the lawyers are waiting for the
legal expense fund to be set up before submitting a bill.

But statements made under oath in August 2009 by Bruce Fein, who
handles cases for TALDF and is representing Schmidt, and former
Schmidt chief of staff Barry Bennett seem to contradict this. They
suggest the TALDF would pay the legal bills for Schmidt’s case.

When asked whether TALDF had charged the Schmidt campaign any money
for representation, Fein said: “The answer is no. We stated that we
would do this and we would not charge them legal fees.”

Krikorian’s lawyer asked Bennett, “And there’s no ethics issue
associated with Turkish American Legal Defense Funds paying for Ms.

Schmidt’s legal fees?”

Bennett replied: “No, not that I’m aware of.”

These statements were made in depositions taken for the Ohio Elections
Commission case. They were submitted to the Office of Congressional
Ethics as part of Krikorian’s request for a formal investigation.

‘We have not paid them’ So the question becomes: Were Schmidt’s
lawyers paid, and if so, by whom?

Pfaff said he didn’t know the answer. “We have not paid them,” he said.

Schmidt has been represented by three lawyers: Fein and David Salzman,
both of Fein & Salzman in Washington, who are also listed as contacts
on the TALDF Web site; and Donald C. Brey of Chester, Willcox &
Saxbe in Columbus.

The Enquirer reached Fein by phone to ask whether Schmidt had paid
Fein & Salzman. He said, “I’ve stated all that I’m going to say on
the record,” before hanging up.

Brey did not return phone and e-mail messages seeking comment.

According to the Federal Election Commission, as long as no bills
have been submitted or paid, then no laws have been violated. Schmidt
would be required to report the cost of the legal services when the
bill is received, listed either as a debt or paid for by campaign
funds or a legal expense fund.

Pfaff has said in previous news reports that the lawyers spent more
than 200 hours on the case. There were travel fees involved for them
as well as a witness, court reporting fees and other costs. He declined
to estimate the total cost.

In his complaint, Krikorian guessed that the total cost could
range from $200,000 to $500,000, which would exceed what Schmidt’s
congressional office or campaign is legally allowed to accept.

Christopher P. Finney, a Cincinnati lawyer who is representing
Krikorian, said he finds it highly unlikely, not to mention extremely
unusual, that any law firm would go 15 months without submitting a
bill, especially when the costs are that high.

Pfaff said Schmidt’s office has been in touch with the House Committee
on Standards of Official Conduct, commonly referred to as the House
ethics committee, since the “very beginning.” When asked for a specific
date, he said, “conversations,” and a request for an advisory opinion
from the committee, occurred in September 2009.

A long feud Schmidt’s first case was filed in May 2009, and Pfaff
said there was a delay in formally communicating with the committee
because it took several months to figure out how to proceed.

He said the committee responded in writing in February. He declined to
release the committee’s letter because it’s protected by “congressional
privilege” and could be used in Schmidt’s pending case against
Krikorian. The Enquirer turned down an offer to view the document
unless it could report on what it said.

“I want people to recognize that David Krikorian is willing to say or
do anything to attack the congresswoman with little or no proof. He
has no understanding of how long it takes to get things through the
House committee here, and he has no understanding of what discussions
we’ve had with the House committee on this matter,” he added.

Schmidt’s legal battles with Krikorian go back to the 2008 election.

In a complaint filed with the Ohio Elections Commission in May 2009,
she alleged that Krikorian had made false and damaging statements
on his campaign website when he said she took “blood money” to deny
the Armenian genocide, in which more than a million Armenians were
killed by Turks at the end of World War I. The Turkish government
says there were massacres on both sides in the conflict as the Ottoman
Empire collapsed.

For the record, Schmidt said she does not believe that the events of
1915 constitute a genocide. Regardless, she argued before the OEC that
the campaign donations she received from Turkish sources came from
American donors and not the Turkish government, which would be illegal.

The OEC ruled in her favor in October, issuing a written reprimand
to Krikorian for making false statements.

Then this June, Schmidt filed a lawsuit against Krikorian in Clermont
County Common Pleas Court seeking $6.8 million in compensatory and
punitive damages, alleging that Krikorian had again accused her of
taking “blood money” from the Turks.

Schmidt has long been a darling of the Turkish community.

In May 2009, right after filing the Ohio Elections Commission complaint
against Krikorian, she traveled to Turkey, courtesy of the Turkish
Coalition of America. The following month, an editorial she wrote
was published in Today’s Zaman, a Turkish newspaper.

In Congress, she has praised the founding of Turkey on the House
floor, opposed legislation recognizing the Armenian genocide, and
joined the Caucus on U.S.-Turkish Relations. She has also marched
as grand marshal in a Turkish Day Parade, lunched with a group of
Turks at Cafe Istanbul in Newport, and raised thousands in campaign
contributions from Turkish Americans.

According to the last census, there are just 3,159 Turks in Ohio,
including 297 in the 2nd Congressional District.

From: A. Papazian

RUSSIA’S DELIVERY OF C-300 ROCKETS TO AZERBAIJAN – JUST A BLUFF

Aysor
Aug 2 2010
Armenia

Those statements containing information about Moscow’s possible
delivery of anti-aircraft missile launchers C-300 to Azerbaijan are
not true, an unnamed defense ministry senior official told Russian
Interfax agency.

“There are not any agreements on C-300, and they will hardly be signed
in the near future. It is impossible to describe the absurdity of the
whole thing. Those statements are bluff, a profanation,” the source
is quoted by Interfax as saying.

He said “the supply of Russian C-300 rockets to Azerbaijan is
impossible today.”

“First of all, [this is impossible] from political points of view.

Given the complicated relations between Yerevan and Baku, C-300’s
export to Azerbaijan will violate without doubt the balance of
forces in the region. Besides, Armenia is Russia’s ally in CSTO,
and agreements of such kind between Moscow and Baku can be perceived
by Armenia as a betrayal. There were not any official statements on
Azerbaijan’s accession to CSTO,” the source stressed.

“The issue’s economical component is not in favor of such agreements,”
it also said.

“Azerbaijan can hardly deal with Russia over a contract that costs
its country budget’s one-third,” it added.

From: A. Papazian