Creation of Russian-Armenian Military Grouping Strengthened Anti-Russian Sentiments

Baku / 28.07.17 / Turan: The signing of the federal law on ratification of the agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia on the joint grouping of troops on July 26 by Russian President V.Putin caused a negative reaction among the Azerbaijanis.

There is no fear and panic, but anti-Russian sentiments, of course, intensified. Some analysts are looking for justifiable words in this event, as the human rights activist Avaz Hasanov, who believes that Moscow is simply leading Armenia away from signing an agreement with the European Union. Others, like former political prisoner Tofig Yagublu, are outraged that Baku does not abandon Russian mediation, while Moscow has openly supported the aggressor.

"One cannot do this: one of the mediators, the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, has joined forces with the occupier of Karabakh, whereas the Russian Federation should be an objective mediator in the Karabakh settlement. And the leadership of Azerbaijan does not have the courage to declare indignation and refuse such an intermediary," T. Yagublu writes from Philadelphia, USA.

The agreement on the creation of the united Armed Forces was signed by Moscow and Yerevan on October 30, 2016, but both sides did not hurry to ratify it, holding it as a means of pressure on Azerbaijan. Unexpectedly urgent ratification of this document by the State Duma and the Armenian parliament means that from now on Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas are occupied by a joint Russian-Armenian army supporting local Karabakh terrorists, one of the leaders of the political party REAL Natik Jafarli said.

"There is a serious tension between Moscow and Baku, it is obvious that the Sochi meeting of Presidents I. Aliyev and V.Putin did not lead to agreement. Immediately after this meeting, Russia took control of part of the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline by its army, the Kremlin media are attacking Azerbaijan, and our agricultural products do not enter the markets of Russia.

We can support the government of Azerbaijan in three directions: steps to liberate Karabakh and the surrounding areas, integration with Western institutions and the expansion of ties, and the strengthening of a secular state. To this end, the government should be aware of its responsibility, pursue non-vested interests, abandon corruption thinking, take steps to establish intranational accord, and form a new democratic parliament and coalition government in the future. This is the only salvation of Azerbaijan," the party REAL believes.

The political scientist Elkhan Shahinoglu also discusses the results of the Sochi meeting of the Presidents and comes to the conclusion that there is no unity of positions on Karabakh. This is indicated by shooting at the Azerbaijani-Armenian front, where tension has intensified. For the first time, the Armenian Foreign Minister visited the occupied territories, and even came to Kelbadjar not related to Karabakh. This is known to Moscow, but it does not react. The advance of the Russian army to the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline is a threat to the economic interests not so much of Georgia, but of Azerbaijan pumping oil to Turkey. Finally, the treaty on the Russian-Armenian military group unambiguously directed against Azerbaijan has been ratified. And all this happened after the Sochi meeting.

Moscow wants Azerbaijan to be as obedient as Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, fulfilling all the whims of Putin. This is impossible, since the national interests of Azerbaijan and Russia do not coincide," said the head of the Atlas Research Center, Shahinoglu.

On July 26, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a federal law on the ratification of the agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia on a unified grouping of troops (forces).

The signed law ratifies the agreement between Russia and Armenia on a joint force grouping signed in Moscow on November 30, 2016. This agreement determines the purpose, the order of formation, deployment and application of the combined group.

The main tasks of the united group include: timely revealing of the immediate preparation of an armed attack (aggression) against the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia within the borders of the region and its reflection; covering the overland part of the state border of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia within the established limits of responsibility; participation in the protection of the state border of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia in the airspace, as well as participation in the air defense of troops and critical facilities of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia located in the region. -0-