792) Armenia Trusts Russians While Azerbaijan and Georgia Relies on Americans

ANKARA, Jan SOYKOK, JTW - Armenia trusts the military cooperation with Russia against any threats that might come from the region while Georgia and Azerbaijan develop security co-operation with US, EU, Israel and Turkey. Yerevan argued that they perceive a possible attack from the Turks. Armenia is the only Caucasian country who attacked another regional country.
A report titled “Armenian National Security Strategy Tendencies,” prepared by the National Security Council under Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, has defended that Russian units stationed in Armenia, with the help of Armenian-Russian cooperation, will paralyze any possible Turkish threats.

According to the news published on “Panarmenian.com” website, the report details the development of a strategic cooperation between Russia and Armenia in fields such as the “involvement in coalition groups, common air defense system and collaboration in the Security Collaboration Organization, including some former Soviet countries”.

Pointing at the importance of Russian and Armenian relations within the multinational structure, the report indicates the air defense system as an example.

“We do not want war; however, if required, we are ready to fight,” the Armenian defense minister declared. Armenia has occupied almost 20 percent of neighboring Azerbaijan for more than a decade.

Dr. Nilgun Gulcan from Ankara-based ISRO (USAK) finds the Sarkisyan’s possible Turkish attack meaningless: “If Turkey wants to occupy Armenia, no power could prevent Turkey to do so. However Turkey has not attack any neighboring country for the decades. And Ankara has always declared that it wants peace with all of the neighbors including Armenia. Armenians should understand that Russians cannot protect them from any attacks. The past clearly show that the Russians used the Armenians and abused the Armenian issue. No foreign power could protect the Armenians. Armenia spends millions of dollars to military, however no big investment can help to ease Armenia’s security problems. The only thing could help the Armenian security is peace and good relations with the neighbors. I hope Armenians will understand that Turkey is not a threat to Armenian security. Turkey’s contribution to Armenia’s security could be greater than the Moscow’s contribution.”
Armenia is the only Caucasian country who attacked another regional country. 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory has been under Armenian occupation and the EU named Armenia as ‘occupier’ in the region. Armenian radicals also threaten to occupy Azerbaijan’s Naxcivan region and Georgia’s Armenian populated province. Armenia does not recognize Turkey’s national borders and name Turkey’s eastern provinces ‘Western Armenia’.

Compiled and Written by Jan SOYKOK

JTW with news agencies
10 March 2006

Jan SOYKOK
http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=27532