Our Frenemy

[Yervant1]

Our Frenemy

Editorial, 31 October 2014


In the 400-year-history of Armenian/Russian relations, the two nations
have frequently helped each other and in countless ways. Butunlike
Russia, Armenia has not betrayed its friend. Moscow betrayed the
Armenians as soon as the Tsarist armies marched into Armenia, in the
1820s, and drove out the Persians. The Russian "liberators" then
proceeded to oppress Armenians and attempted to assimilate them. In
the 1890s Russia's foreign minister said his country preferred an
Armenia without Armenians. Three decades later the Soviets gave Kars
and Ardahan to Turkey, and Nakhichevan/Karapagh to Azerbaijan. Despite
the huge sacrifices Armenians made during WWII, soon after the war
Stalin had designs to take away Armenia's status as a republic. During
the Azeri pogroms Moscow didn't lift a finger to assist the Armenians.
Instead, its soldiers rescued the Azeri armed forces thus guaranteeing
that Getashen, Shahumyan and portions of Mardagerd would become part
of Azerbaijan.

Despite Russia's long "rap sheet", Armenia hugged the bear and put
aside the memories of the bad Soviet periods when the USSR collapsed.
Since then Armenia has signed various military, political, economic,
and cultural agreements with Russia.

Yet every other week Russia seems to announce further weapons sales to
Azerbaijan. And although Azerbaijan is armed to the teeth (Baku has a
$4 billion defense budget per annum or equal to the total budget of
Armenia), Russia keeps selling more sophisticated arms to Baby Aliev's
fiefdom. The latter already buys weapons from 18 countries, especially
high-tech equipment from Israel. In early September it was announced
that Russia will probably deliver more than 100 T-90S tanks to
Azerbaijan, although Moscow just completed the delivery of 100 T-90S
tanks in April. One wonders what else Russia is selling in secret to
the Baku petroclan.

The Kremlin policy of arming his ally's enemy is stunning and
unprecedented in the annals of history. It's breathtaking in its
treachery. To arm your ally's aggressive enemy is a new one in
diplomatic and military history. Even cynical Nicolo Machiavelli would
have blanched at Moscow's blithe perfidy.

Does President Vladimir Putin reside in parallel worlds where he can
be a friend of Armenia in one and foe in the other?

What's Moscow's explanation for its egregious sale of arms to Baku?
The two-timing is "just business," the Kremlin says. Even Mafia hoods,
who say "it's just business" when they kill, don't slay their
partners.

Moscow claims it needs the money. Yes, it needs the few billion Azeri
petrodollars when it forgave Cuba's $32 billion debt a few months ago.
Yes, it needs the money when it spent close to $60 billion on the
Sochi Olympics extravaganza.

Moscow says it sells weapons to Armenia at low prices, although it
knows full well that even at those so-called low prices impoverished
Armenia has a hard time coming up with the cash.

Perhaps taking advantage of the distance from Moscow, a few months ago
President Serge Sarkissian finally blurted to "La Nacion" newspaper in
far away Argentina: "It is a very painful subject and our people are
worried that our strategic ally sells weapons to Azerbaijan."

Rather than stop the arms exports to Azerbaijan, Russia is now selling
strategic and offensive rockets the equivalent of which Armenia
doesn't have. Some 80% of the Azeri arsenal comes from Russia.

Why the blatant Russian treachery?

Russia wants to keep Armenia in a state of arrested development, and
dependent on Moscow.

Although Azerbaijan is not a member of Russia's Collective Security
Treaty Organization (Armenia is), Russia considers Azerbaijan a
potential strategic ally.

Russia believes that as far as Armenia is concerned, Moscow is the
only game in town.

Russia believes the million-plus Armenians living in Russia (some send
remittances to Armenia) are handy hostages if Armenia doesn't behave.

Russia takes Armenia for granted as it woos unreliable but petrorich Azerbaijan.

Stepan Seferian, who leads a newly established think-tank in Armenia,
said of Russia's arming of Azerbaijan: "This is inadmissible. Armenia
must hold Russia-Armenia consultations and demand explanation because
in essence Russia is acting against the strategic partnership [with
Armenia] and the principles of conflict mediation."

But there isn't much to talk about. The Kremlin doesn't hide its
treachery. Its two-timing is brazen and above board.

But there's the Israeli September Surprise which should make Kremlin
think twice about continuing to arm Azerbaijan. In mid-September
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon met Aliyev at the Baku ADEX
defense industry exhibition and demonstrated how the Iron Dome air
defense system operates. The electronic system can intercept and
destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from a distance
of 4 kilometer to 70 kilometer. It's possible that Baku would buy the
Iron Dome. The Israeli system has twice shown its effectiveness
against rockets (some of them Grad) launched from Gaza. It's possible
that Baku would buy the Iron Dome. How long after that before Baku
says "No, thank you" to Moscow? Israel, backed by the US, would meet
Baku's voracious appetite for armaments and without strings. Baku
would then do the Kiev-Tbilisi Trot and gaze west.

Finally, Moscow must consider the crazed ambitions of the Aliyevians.
Frequently in the past year Baku mediacrats, bureaucrooks and assorted
hired buffoons have declared that Armenia is part of historic
Azerbaijan. If Azerbaijan beats Armenia Baku would establish a land
bridge to Turkey, join NATO, and tighten even harder the choke-hold on
Russia's southern "area of influence".


http://www.keghart.com/Editorial-Frenemy

[onjig]

This is very worrisome indeed! What leverage do we have, no close friends and no friends close.

 

It is a shame we don't have good feelings and dealings with Georgia, a Christian nation.

Edited November 5, 2014 by Yervant1