ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Sept 28 2005
$190.7 MLN PRIVATE TRANSFERS ARRIVED IN ARMENIA IN FIRST HALF YEAR
2005
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28. ARMINFO. 88.3 bln AMD ($190.7 mln) private
transfers or 87% of total transfers (101,0 bln AMD or $218.2 mln)
arrived in Armenia in the first half year of 2005.
The quarter bulletin of Armenia’s CB informs that within the
reporting period the private transfers from Armenia totaled 12.7 bln
AMD ($27.5 mln) or 13% of total transfers. To note, transfers to
Armenia 7 times exceeded the transfers made from the country.
The transfers have been made by Armenia’s commercial banks through
Western Union and Money Gram systems, “Anelik” system of “Anelik
Bank”, “UNIstream” of the Moscow UNIstreamBank (corresponding bank of
the Armenian UNIBANK), as well as Express and Contact systems, etc.
Most of transfers to Armenia arrived through UNIstream – 27.9% (35.5%
of total transfers), 20.5% and 25% arrived through Western Union and
Anelik systems respectively (16.9% and 18.2% of total transfers
respectively).

Haykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan, in Armenian
23 Sep 05, p 1
ARMENIA SHOULD SWAP OLD NUCLEAR POWER STATION FOR EU-FUNDED ONE –
PAPER
Headlined “The foreign policy issue”
A delegation headed by Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Arman
Kirakosyan will take part in the 49th session of IAEA [the
International Atomic Energy Agency] on 26-30 September, Arka news
agency reports. Kirakosyan will deliver a report and announce that
Armenia is going to build a new nuclear station. Yesterday [21
September] we failed to get an official reaction to this information.
The Metsamor nuclear power station is the most important conundrum of
Armenian foreign policy. The position of the EU on this issue is
strict: they want the closure of our nuclear power station because
the station does not meet security standards, and for its closure,
the EU is ready to give 100m euros to Armenia for the search of
alternative power sources.
In this case, the EU supports the construction of another type of
power station. However, it is especially obvious in Armenia’s case
that our country imports energy sources mainly from abroad, a nuclear
power station may be the only alternative for the nuclear power
station.
Certainly, Armenia also imports nuclear fuel from abroad, but an
opportunity to produce cheap nuclear energy will become that “booby
prize” which Armenia will have for being out of the regional energy
projects.
A natural question arises: why should the world community be
interested in awarding Armenia the “booby prize”? The point is that
depriving Armenia of nuclear energy may hopelessly break the
correlation of forces in our region and this may cast doubt on the
prospect of establishing long-lasting stability in the South
Caucasus.
Thus Armenia should be able to persuade the EU that the closure of
the nuclear power station is not possible for 100m euros but for the
construction of a new nuclear power station, and that the fuel for
this nuclear power station should be purchased not from Russia but
Europe. This will create basis for getting rid of Russia, which is
also considered one of the important conditions of the regional
stability.
And if Arman Kirakosyan really speaks about this, we should say that
Armenia has adopted right direction in this issue. Armenia should not
declare about its decision to construct a new nuclear power station
but should start negotiations with the EU on this matter. Otherwise,
this may create serious confrontation with the West and Armenia may
find itself in the same situation as Iran or North Korea. It is
obvious that Armenia cannot carry out such a project all by itself
and only the EU or the USA may finance it.
This means that the problem of the new Armenian nuclear power station
should be turned into a mutually profitable topic of dialogue with
the West especially when the West considers Russia’s departure from
the region as a significant step, and the construction of the new
power station will be the shortest step in this direction.
Incidentally, Russia is also interested in this matter. It is
advantageous for Russia if the Armenian nuclear power station remains
in today’s situation because, given this, Russia is the only provider
of the nuclear fuel to the station. Even after the construction of
the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, Armenia will not be able to overcome
the status of Russia’s outpost. If Russia manages to inflame conflict
between Armenia and the West over the power station, Armenia may turn
from Russia’s outpost into its vassal.

Regnum, Moscow, in Russian
20 Sep 05
RUSSIAN ENERGY COMPANY CHIEF DETAILS PLANS IN ARMENIA
A top official of the Russian energy giant has confirmed the plans to
buy the Armenian power grid. Andrey Rappoport, chairman of the board
of directors of Inter-RAO UES, brushed aside allegations of breaching
the Armenian legislation while taking over the power grid from a
British company. The deal is legally not over yet and the provisions
of the Armenian law on privatization will be fulfilled, Rappoport
said in an interview with the Russian news agency Regnum. Rappoport
also said that the state commission regulating the public service has
the powers to set tariffs, issue licences and endorse contracts,
making the creation of a “vertically-integrated monster” impossible
in Armenia. The following is the text of report by Russian news
agency Regnum; subheadings have been inserted editorially:
Vertically-integrated “monster” impossible in Armenia
[Correspondent] Mr Rappoport, following the explanations of
[Britain’s] Midland Resources Holding Ltd company, the discussions
around the Electricity Networks of Armenia closed-type joint-stock
company have slightly subsided. Statements are being made that RAO
UES plans to create “a vertically integrated monster” in Armenia. It
is alleged that the Russian side intends to establish a monopolistic
system of generating and distributing electricity in Armenia which
would have a negative impact on the development and energy security
of Armenia. Do you agree with this assessment? Please explain your
answer.
[Rappoport] I absolutely disagree. First of all, I would like to note
that RAO UES Russia owns only 10% of electricity generation in
Armenia – the Sevan-Razdan Cascade hydroelectric power plant, which
belongs to a subsidiary, the International Energy Corporation [IEC]
closed-type joint-stock company.
Inter-RAO UES used to manage the Razdan thermal power plant when the
property complex of the Razdan thermal power plant was being handed
over from Armenia to the Russian Federation at the expense of the
interstate debt. The reason was the need for the stable work of the
station while the legal registration took place. Inter-RAO UES dealt
with ensuring the uninterrupted and reliable generation of electric
power in the Razdan thermal power plant, supplying the reserve fuel
to the station and guaranteeing the energy balance in the winter. The
company tackled the task successfully.
We withdrew from the management after the station was handed over to
Russia and a new legal entity was created. However, Inter-RAO UES is
the managing company of Armenia-owned 100% of shares of the Armenian
Nuclear Power Station. The management was established in 2003 at the
request of the Armenian government with the aim to overcome a crisis
at the plant. As a result of our work, the plant generated an
all-time record electricity output already in 2004 and its net profit
rose to 19m dollars.
At the last session of the board of directors of the Armenian Nuclear
Power Station, a report on the work conducted has been heard and the
participants in the session agreed that the station is ready to
operate on its own. We are ready to stop managing the station even
though all these years we have been the financial guarantor of its
nuclear fuel supply. Fuel supplies will be done in 2005 in the same
way as before.
Concerning the creation of a vertically integrated company or, to
borrow your expression, of a “monster”, this is impossible in
Armenia. The fact is that the most important member in this market is
the commission on regulating public services. It regulates the state
policy on setting tariffs for each actor of the market, on issuing
licenses on their activity, confirming and coordinating contracts.
The state dictates the tariff policy, rules of work and fields.
Therefore such accusations are groundless.
No influence on tariffs
[Correspondent] Sometimes the Armenian media carries reports warning
that as the owner of the main generating capacities of Armenia, RAO
UES will have the opportunity to have an unhindered influence on the
domestic tariffs in Armenia after having bought its power grid. Does
RAO UES have such a task?
[Rappoport] The state is regulating the tariffs via the commission
regulating the public services. RAO UES is not the owner of the main
generating capacities but owns only the Sevan-Razdan Cascade, which,
incidentally, we bought at the request of the Armenian side when the
payment for the delivery of nuclear fuel and the repayments of debts
accumulated since 1995 were under discussion. At that time the
Armenian power industry had no money to settle the accounts with us
and we took the cascade as a payment. We cannot influence tariffs.
The commission is independent. Its members are elected for a term of
five years. Even the Armenian government cannot influence it.
Ownership of power grid and regional plans
[Correspondent] According to the information given by Britain’s
Midland Resources Holding LTD, 100% of shares of the Armenian
Electricity Networks were handed over to the Russian Interenergo BV
company for trust management for the duration of 99 years. By what is
behind such a long-term interest of the Russian side in the Armenian
Electricity Networks? The top management of RAO UES has repeatedly
announced that they intend to synchronize the work of the electricity
systems of the South Caucasus countries, as well as of Turkey and
Iran. Is it possible to consider the interest of RAO UES to the
Armenian Electricity Networks in this context?
[Rappoport] Concerning the period of 99 years, first of all, the
Anglo-Saxon law allows to operate with such terms and we used this
opportunity. Second, we are not going to be just a manager for 99
years, but we intend to be the owner of the grid in the near future.
All the necessary documents for owning the grids or giving the
ownership to Interenergo BV, a subsidiary company that is a member of
the RAO UES group of companies, will be sent in the near future.
Now about the synchronization of the energy systems of South
Caucasus, Turkey and Iran. We have signed a memorandum with Iran,
which in particular, talked about the organization of the network
construction and ensuring simultaneous work via Azerbaijan by 2007.
We also put forward an initiative to organize a corridor for the
parallel work via Armenia and Georgia, and have reached a preliminary
agreement to this respect with Iran. A corresponding proposal was
made to the Armenian power engineers and I think that the work in
this direction in Armenia and Georgia will become significantly more
intensive in the nearest future. It must also be taken into
consideration that Armenia’s energy system is already working in the
parallel regime with Iran.
Western criticism
[Correspondent] When the Russian side and the British company made a
deal on the Armenian Electricity Networks, USAID took an unexpected
and harsh stance. What worries the Americans in your view?
[Rappoport] Some Western organizations voiced an opinion that the
deal is not transparent. They are concerned that the owner has
changed in the violation of certain legal provisions. We carried out
a number of consultations with the representatives of the World Bank
and of other Western organizations and made it clear that the
ownership has not changed at present and that there was has not been
any violation of the legislation.
We are already a participant in Armenia’s electricity market, we know
the country’s laws very well and follow them rigidly. I want to
emphasize that the procedure of taking over the shares will also be
implemented in accordance with the law. The statements of the Western
organizations were prompted, apparently, by the fact that although
the procedure has yet to even start, representatives of these
organizations assumed that the deal was over. They assumed that it
was not only completed but also that it was done “non-transparently”.
It is possible that they did not fully understand the legal side of
the deal, but it is also possible that they fell under the influence
of the excessively emotional publications in the local press.
At this point we have already received the declaration on trust, that
is we became the beneficiary in terms of rights but we did not become
the owner. This means that legally speaking, the operation is not
over and it will be completed once the government has endorsed it,
and when the provisions of the law on privatization in Armenia are
fulfilled.
[Correspondent] RAO UES and Gazprom have suggested the Armenian
government that they complete the construction of the fifth unit of
the Razdan thermal power station which will take part in the
“electricity for gas” scheme involving the gas coming through the
Armenia-Iran pipeline. Has Armenia responded to the offer, and if
not, what is the reason for the delay?
[Rappoport] Inter-RAO UES and Gazprom did indeed jointly apply with
an appropriate commercial proposal in accordance with the decision of
the intergovernment commission on economic cooperation between Russia
and Armenia. We hoped to receive a response within a month but,
regrettably, we have still to receive any information. A possible
explanation for the delay is that there is a certain rivalry on this
issue and it is likely that some alternative proposals are being
formed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Voice of America News
September 28, 2005
EU Parliament Backs Turkey’s EU Membership Talks
The European Parliament has endorsed next week’s planned start of
European Union membership talks with Turkey.
However, lawmakers on Wednesday also postponed ratifying Turkey’s
customs accord with the European Union because of Turkey’s continued
refusal to recognize Cyprus, which gained EU membership last year.
Also, the European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling
on Turkey to recognize the massacre of hundreds of thousands of
Armenians under the Ottoman Empire as a genocide.
Armenia says 1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered by the Turks 90
years ago during the final years of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey says
300,000 Armenians and thousands of Turks were killed during an
Armenian uprising.

AZERI ELECTION: RIVALS SLAM OPPOSITION BLOC FOR UNSANCTIONED DEMOS
Azerbaijani TV Channel One, Baku, in Azeri
26 Sep 05
The parliamentary election campaign in Azerbaijan continued on Monday
26 September with free and paid election broadcasts on state
television.
A paid electoral advertisement for parliamentary candidate, Farhad
Qaribov, head of the Azari Holding financial and industrial group,
described him as a hardworking person who loves his country and
parents and praised him for donating money to charity.
After that, Malahat Hasanova, a parliamentary candidate from the
ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), said in her free election
broadcast that the party follows the path of Heydar Aliyev which is
the path of truth. She praised the late ex-President Heydar Aliyev
for saving the country from a civil war, establishing a cease-fire
with Armenia and starting economic development in the country. Major
oil and gas projects such as Baku-Ceyhan and Baku-Erzurum which were
signed under Aliyev, as well as the Silk Road and TRACECA (Transport
Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) projects guarantee the country’s
economic development and security, she stressed.
In turn, Agacan Xosrovov, a candidate from the opposition Liberal
Party, promised to solve problems if elected to parliament. He also
said that no conditions have been created in Lankaran for him to meet
his voters.
After that, a candidate from the Azadliq election bloc, Malahat
Mursudlu, criticized the ruling party candidates for advertising
things that do not exist. People should have the right to influence
decision-making and everyone should be equal before the law, she
said. Mursudlu also invited people to attend the bloc’s rally on
Cafar Cabbarli Square in central Baku on 1 October.
Araz Alizada from the Yeni Siyasat opposition bloc criticized his
rivals for illegal actions and violence. He called for reconciliation
which he believes can help liberate Karabakh. Speaking about the
leader of the bloc, ex-President Ayaz Mutallibov who lives in exile
in Russia, Alizada said that President Aliyev wants reconciliation
and will resolve the issue of Mutallibov’s return to Azerbaijan.
Bahar Muradova, another candidate from the New Azerbaijan Party,
accused the opposition of provocations. In her paid election
broadcast, she said that “the radical opposition” does not like it
when campaigning is progressing successfully and for this reason, is
trying to destabilize the situation in Baku. Citing the 25 September
rally as an example, she said that the opposition agreed to talks
with the authorities only after the US embassy advised them to do so,
but the talks failed through the opposition’s fault. And they want to
hold a rally in a densely-populated area in central Baku again, she
said. The aim is to organize a provocation so that pressure is
exerted on the authorities later on, Muradova added. She called on
young people not to support these forces and vote for the NAP and
President Ilham Aliyev.
Meanwhile, Sevinc Huseynova, another candidate from the NAP, used her
paid election broadcast to appeal to President Aliyev and his wife.
She complained about the executive authorities in her constituency in
Samux District, which she said are ignoring the presidential decree
on improving electoral practices and illegally campaigning for one of
the candidates. I believe that you will create conditions for a free
and fair election, she said in conclusion.
At the same time, Ayyub Ayyubov from the Unity bloc praised President
Aliyev for his policy and said that all problems facing the country
could be resolved through national unity.
The United People’s Front of Azerbaijan Party used their paid
election broadcast to advertise party candidate Niyamaddin Orduxanov.
After that, Mammad Alizada, a candidate from the Islahat (Reform)
bloc, praised Heydar Aliyev for developing the market economy in the
country. In his paid election broadcast, he also criticized the
opposition for being puppets in the hands of foreign countries and
for serving those who do no want Azerbaijan to conduct an independent
policy. He called on voters to fight “these scoundrels”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FINNISH PRESIDENT PLEASED WITH RESULTS OF VISIT TO ARMENIA
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan, in Armenian
27 Sep 05
[Presenter] Finnish President Tarja Halonen and her husband are
paying a two-day visit to Armenia at the invitation of Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan.
The Armenian and Finnish presidents held a tete-a-tete meeting at the
Armenian president’s residency this morning after the official
reception of the high-ranking guest. The leaders of the two countries
discussed bilateral relations between Armenia and Finland,
cooperation between the European Union and Armenia, as well as
regional problems.
The sides also exchanged views on pressing international problems.
The Finnish president hailed Armenia’s involvement in the European
Union’s New Neighbourhood programme and noted that Finland is paying
great attention to issues of expanding relations with the South
Caucasus countries, especially as Finland will take over the
presidency of the European Union next year.
Kocharyan and Halonen also discussed the future directions of
economic cooperation between the two countries and opportunities of
their intensification. On the same day, Kocharyan and Halonen held a
joint news conference.
[Kocharyan] We discussed bilateral relations between the two
countries. I expressed my satisfaction with our political
discussions, and we specially stressed issues that will stimulate
economic cooperation. Moreover, our relations can expand in the
context of relations with the European Union and I hope that we will
receive assistance from the Finnish side in preparing our action
programme within the framework of the New Neighbourhood programme. I
informed the Finnish president about the negotiating processes on the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. This is her first visit to Armenia as
president. But she is well-informed about the settlement of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and its history.
We discussed regional problems, Armenian-Turkish relations and a
number of other issues. I am pleased with the volume of the
discussions which were successful.
[Halonen, speaking in English with Armenian voice-over] I am also
pleased with my visit. It is important when presidents meet. This is
a high-level political meeting. I regard prospects for economic
cooperation at the current stage as being important. There are two
important documents on this sphere which are being prepared at the
moment. This is an agreement on protecting investments and an
agreement on avoiding double taxation. They are important for
businessmen.
I am also aware of the process of settling the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict and I encouraged President Kocharyan to continue his efforts
and take further steps towards a final solution to this problem.
I congratulated the Armenian government on progress made in
cooperation with the European Union, especially within the framework
of the New Neighbourhood programme.
I think that the document on cooperation within the framework of the
New Neighbourhood programme will be prepared by Armenia when Finland
takes over the European Union’s presidency next year.

TRIAL OF AZERI OFFICER RESUMES IN HUNGARY
Space TV, Baku, in Azeri
27 Sep 05
[Presenter] The trial of Ramil Safarov, an officer of the Azerbaijani
army, who is charged with murdering Armenian officer Gurgen
Markaryan, is coming to an end in Budapest at the moment. Another
officer of the Armenian army testified in the first part of the
trial. Safarov’s defence lawyer Adil Ismayilov has details from
Budapest.
[Ismayilov by telephone] The Armenian officer testified during the
trial and said that Ramil had tried to kill him as well. In turn,
Ramil denied his accusations. There were some contradictions in his
testimony, which is why defence lawyers examined them and filed a
protest.
Moreover, we have experts here and they will be questioned as well.
One of them has already testified and the other one will testify
soon.

Mediamax news agency, Yerevan, in Russian
28 Sep 05
ARMENIAN MILITARY SPENDING TO INCREASE BY 30M DOLLARS IN 2006
Yerevan, 28 September: The Armenian government will allocate another
13bn drams (about 30m dollars) for military spending in 2006.
Deputy Finance and Economy Minister Pavel Safaryan said this in
Yerevan today while speaking about the draft state budget of 2006
approved by the Armenian government today. Spending on health will
grow by 6.7bn drams [15m dollars] and education by 8bn [18m dollars].
The minimum salary in 2006 will total 15,000 drams [33 dollars]
instead of 13,000 [28 dollars]. The amount of compulsory social
payments will total 7,000 drams [15 dollars] instead of the current
5,000 drams [11 dollars].

The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
September 28, 2005 Wednesday
All Editions
Andrew Antranig Shahinian; fostered Armenian culture;
Helped preserve folk music, art
By PETER J. SAMPSON, STAFF WRITER, North Jersey Media Group
Andrew Antranig Shahinian of Oradell, a prominent member of the
Armenian-American community whose passion for native music and art
was celebrated, died Saturday after a long illness. He was 87.
Mr. Shahinian was born in Yerevan, Armenia, on June 2, 1918. Fleeing
ethnic genocide at the end of World War I, the family immigrated to
Syracuse, N.Y., in 1920 and relocated to New York City a decade
later.
An accomplished violinist, the young Mr. Shahinian turned down a
scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music and pursued a career in
graphic arts.
Enlisting in the U.S. Army during World War II, he became a pilot and
flight instructor, flying B-29 bombers. At the end of the war, he
resumed his career as a photoengraver.
Over the years, Mr. Shahinian and his partners acquired more than a
dozen firms, making the Master Eagle Family of Companies into one of
the largest graphic arts businesses in the country. He retired in the
late 1980s.
Mr. Shahinian was active in numerous Armenian-American organizations,
serving in leadership positions in the Armenian General Benevolent
Union, the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America and the Armenian Library and Museum of American, and on
various ad hoc committees dedicated to the advancement of Armenian
culture and the preservation and development of the fledging Armenian
nation.
He led humanitarian fund-raising and relief efforts to assist
Armenian refugees displaced by massacres and ethnic cleansing in the
Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan.
At home, Mr. Shahinian was known as “the rock,” because as the
patriarch of large extended family, he could always be counted on
when someone needed help, said his son, Armen Shahinian.
As a first-generation Armenian, he took pride in and was dedicated to
preserving the heritage and culture of an ancient people who at
various times in their history have come close to annihilation, said
Armen Shahinian.
He supported Armenian artists and writers at every opportunity and
possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of Armenian songs, taught by his
parents, that served his efforts to preserve folk music.
Mr. Shahinian is survived by his wife, Alice; five children, Steven
Shahinian of Midway, Ky.; Armen Shahinian of Franklin Lakes; Virginia
Devitre Shahinian of Cohasset, Mass.; Paul Shahinian of Wyckoff; and
Linda Pedrazzini of Switzerland; 13 grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.
A wake will be held at St. Leon’s Armenian Church in Fair Lawn on
Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held
there Friday at 10 a.m. Arrangements are by William G. Basralian
Funeral Home, Oradell.
Donations are being directed to the Armenian General Benevolent
Union, 55 E. 59th St., New York, N.Y. 10022, for the AGBU Karabakh
Centennial Repopulation Project to aid displaced Armenian refugees.

Ekspress, Baku, in Azeri
27 Sep 05 p 10
RUSSIA OPPOSED TO US RADARS IN AZERBAIJAN – EXPERT
by Hasan Agacan’s headlined “The Caucasus is covered by radars”
One of the “two radar stations in Azerbaijan”, which US ambassador
Reno Harnish spoke about in an interview with AFP and which our
newspaper reported last Friday [23 September], is very sophisticated.
The other is a normal one.
In the post-Soviet area, one AN/FPS-117 radar station has been
installed near the Latvian city of Daugavpils. That radar station
allows NATO to monitor the northern Baltic region, as well as
Ukraine, Belarus and the central regions of Russia.
Military expert Murad Verdiyev says that AN/FPS-117 radar stations
make it possible to detect air targets from quite a long distance,
calculate their distance, azimuth and altitude by means of active
radiolocation.
[Passage omitted: more details about the capabilities of the radar
station ]
The radar stations, which will be installed in [Azerbaijan’s
northern] Xizi and [southern] Astara districts, will make it possible
to monitor Georgia, Armenia, the North Caucasus, northern Iran, the
Caspian basin, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and the western regions of
Uzbekistan.
[Passage omitted: more details about the capabilities of the radar
station ]
US servicemen make up 65% of the main and technical staff of the
radar station in Astara District. The US plans to install radar
stations in Azerbaijan go back to 2001. In 2001, Qatar’s Al-Jazeera
TV station quoted the Jerusalem-based Palestinian information centre
as saying that “the USA is deploying radar stations in regions of
Azerbaijan bordering on Iran. To this end, Baku has even allocated
plots of land to the Americans”.
[Passage omitted: Hezbollah was angry with the Azerbaijani government
for hosting US radar stations]
The radar station in Xizi District has not been put into operation
yet. After the station begins to operate, the implementation of the
Caspian security programme drafted by the headquarters of the US
military command in Europe will get under way.
[Passage omitted: details of the programme]
As for the radar station, which is due to be put into operation in
Xizi District in the next few days, it is a TRML-3D. The station
produced by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company is
capable of detecting aeroplanes and helicopters flying at a low
height at a distance of up to 200 kilometres, as well as radio
information and mobile phone conversations.
Marat Aliyev, an expert from the Eurasian Geostrategic Studies
Centre, says that the installation of radar stations in Azerbaijan is
a clear indication of plans to deploy NATO bases to Azerbaijan.
“NATO, namely the USA, have always installed radar systems in former
Soviet countries prior to deploying military bases there. After the
installation of these systems, military hardware, mobile units, air
defence systems and special purpose troops are brought to those
countries,” Aliyev said.
Aliyev says the Pentagon has planned to set up a regional air
surveillance and coordination centre in the South Caucasus region.
“The radar stations the USA is installing in Azerbaijan are more
powerful than the Qabala radar station. Russia understands this and
is very likely to take countermeasures,” he added.
According to a report we received yesterday, the Russian Defence
Ministry is really planning to do so. It is planning to install a
59N6-E Protivnik-GE radar station in one of Dagestan’s southern
districts.