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Azerbaijani politicians and political analysts comment on amendment planned to military protocol between Russia and Armenia - POLL

02 August 2010 14:25 (UTC +04:00)

Political analyst says Russia has occupied Azerbaijani territories on behalf of Armenia, is arming the Armenian army and signs military contracts.
â€œRussia is an aggressive empire. But it has weakened much,â€ he said.

As regards Azerbaijanâ€™s reaction to the amendment, Vafa Guluzadeh said Russia will not react to the protest to be made by Azerbaijan.
â€œIf a note will be sent, Russia never takes into consideration such notes. Azerbaijan has issued such statements many times, Russia does not react to any of them,â€ he said.

Political analyst Rasim Musabayov says Russiaâ€™s step contradicts its mediation mission. He notes that with this document Russia officializes its informal cooperation with Armenia in some issues.
â€œMore than half of the base in Gyumri consists of Armenians. All know that Armenia keeps troops in its territory at the expenses of Russia. It was expected that the military unit will support Armenians. This decision officializes the issue. Moscow used to make a decision for any action of this military unit, now this unit will actually serve the military goals of Armenia together with Armenian army,â€ he said.

Political analyst Ilgar Mammadov says Russia continues negative steps against Azerbaijan. He says this is not the first step between Russia and Armenia, since the beginning of the year Russia has taken a number of unpleasant steps against Azerbaijan.
â€œThe Russian side is openly pursuing anti-Azerbaijan policy. The construction of the Russian Orthodox church began in the occupied Azerbaijani territories a month ago, official representative of the Russian Orthodox Church, who came from Moscow, was also present. Russia pursued this policy 200 years ago, built churches in Azerbaijani territories. This will continue. Russia gives support to Armenia in all spheres, this arises from Russiaâ€™s bad intention with respect to Azerbaijan,â€ he said.

Musavat leader Isa Gambar said Armenia was a Russian outpost and indeed it was not a real independent state. Armenia is under the Russiaâ€™s control, said the party leader and added that the above-mentioned amendment to the protocol was one more confirmation of the real Russian-Armenian relations. â€œRussia is a military ally of Armenia and it is not positive for the solution to the conflict that Russia is one of the mediators in the Armenia - Azerbaijan conflict. It is clear that as an ally of Armenia, Russia couldnâ€™t take neutral and unbiased stand in the solution to this conflict. I consider that Azerbaijan should express its opinion on that issue. At the same time, it is one more document confirming Russian-Armenian alliance. This document can not change the situation fundamentallyâ€.

Chairman of the All Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Gudrat Hasanguliyev said this action by Russia was incompatible with its mediation mission. He said Russia was behind Armenia and it was not interested in the solution to the conflict. He said Azerbaijan should react to this issue. â€œNarishkin is on a visit to Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan should use it to raise a question before Russia that it has a military base in Azerbaijan and therefore there should be similar agreement with Azerbaijan too. Russia should secure the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and to undertake commitment in strengthening of Azerbaijani Army too. If there is no such commitment it is absurd for Russia to deploy military base in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has to make clear what interest does Russia take there and to recognize Russia as a party, but not Armenia. I consider that Azerbaijan and Russia should reach understanding, strengthen relations and set an open dialogue. If it needs to make compromise in the solution to this conflict, it should be made to Russia, not to Armeniaâ€.

Member of the New Azerbaijan Partyâ€™s Political Council, MP Aydin Mirzazadeh said it needed to check this information at first. He said Armenia presented information in its own manner many times and later it was reported in different manner. â€œIf the information is correct, I consider that it is not a serious threat to Azerbaijan. The question is about the protection of Armeniaâ€™s military security by Gumru base. Nagorno Karabakh and nearby regions are not Armenia. There is no question about the support of Armeniaâ€™s military aggression against the neighbor countries. Recently the Collective Security Treaty Organization passed decision about establishing of collective operative forces. That organization was resented as a support of Armeniaâ€™s military aggression against Azerbaijan in that time. Later representatives of that organization said that the organization was not against any third country and it was addressing the security of its members only. The current issue shouldnâ€™t be restricted by the Armeniaâ€™s borders. Such powerful state like Russia cannot be co-writer of the Armeniaâ€™s claims against the neighboring countriesâ€.