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Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev visited Azerbaijan, meeting in Baku with Secretary of the Security Council Ramil Usubov and President Ilham Aliyev. Official reports said that in Baku Patrushev "will hold Russian-Azerbaijani security consultations with the Secretary of the Security Council of Azerbaijan Ramil Usubov and representatives of several ministries and departments of the two countries" (TASS). At a meeting with President Aliyev, "issues of Russian-Azerbaijani cooperation in the field of security, economic relations, the development of cultural and humanitarian ties, and cooperation at the venues of the UN, OSCE and other international organizations were discussed."
Political analyst Elkhan Shainoglu in an interview with Turan noted that Patrushev visits Baku annually, along with visits to Yerevan, and often after his next visit, events in the field of strengthening Azerbaijani-Turkish military cooperation take place. This time, Patrushev"s arrival coincided with the joint Azerbaijani-Turkish Air Force exercises TurAz Qartalı - 2019, and the arrival in Baku of the commander of the Turkish Coast Guard, Rear Admiral Ahmet Kendir. Shainoglu believes that the visit of the Turkish military is also important for the security of Azerbaijan, as Patrushev"s consultations with Azerbaijani leaders.
Paying attention to the texts of Patrushev"s statements in Baku and on the eve of his visit to the capital of Azerbaijan, the political scientist noted that in April 2017 Patrushev linked the security of Azerbaijan with the development of the economy, culture and other areas of the country in which "there will be no problems." "It can be seen that just like two years ago, the Kremlin highlights security in relations with Azerbaijan. Perhaps, behind these words lies a ban on war with Armenia. While on August 12, Patrushev talked about security there in Yerevan."
Nikolai Patrushev, the former head of Russian intelligence, is well aware of the events in Azerbaijan and Armenia, Pashinyan"s latest statement in Nagorno-Karabakh and the belligerent mood in Azerbaijani society. In Baku and Yerevan, Patrushev brought to the attention of the leaders Putin"s special messages that Russia does not want a war in the region. Knowing about the movements of the Azerbaijani army in the Gazakh and Nakhchivan military regions, Patrushev could inform Baku about Moscow"s rejection of these operations. Patrushev"s visit to Yerevan was exactly a week after the scandalous statement by Pashinyan in Khankendi. Patrushev warned Pashinyan about the dangers of such rhetoric, the political analyst noted.
"Just as Patrushev"s demands in Yerevan (including the release of Putin"s friend, ex-president Kocharyan) contradict the interests of Armenia, the message of Patrushev in Baku does not correspond to the interests of Azerbaijan," said Elkhan Shainoglu. On August 12, Nikolai Patrushev was in Yerevan. According to the Russian side, at a meeting with Nikol Pashinyan, "they touched on a number of pressing issues on the international agenda, in particular, the provision of humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people and the restoration of peaceful life in Syria." The official statement of the Armenian government does not mention Syria. "The issue was raised at the initiative of the Russian side," said Vladimir Karapetyan, representative for the Armenian Prime Minister, Radio Azatutyun. "Naturally, Russia highly appreciates the decision of Armenia to participate in the humanitarian mission in Syria," Karapetyan said. Armenian newspapers wrote that Patrushev arrived in Armenia to offer an expansion of the mission in Syria.
Former Foreign Minister Tofig Zulfugarov told Turan: considering the route of Patrushev"s recent visits, we can confidently say that the main topic was a discussion of the current explosive situation in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. Pashinyan's deliberate provocation of the resumption of hostilities cannot but disturb the Russian leadership. Pashinyan"s scenario is simple - a war, then accusing Russia of betrayal and a full turn to the West. I think that the main request of Patrushev to Azerbaijan is that we should be restrained. He could also ask Aliyev to allow Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov to meet with his Armenian counterpart Mnachakanyan in New York....
All these are of course assumptions and are not confirmed by any information, - added T. Zulfugarov.
Politics
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