Russia sets its face towards major ally in Caucasus – Armenia

The visit of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu to Armenia is over. This was Shoygu’s first trip abroad in his capacity as Defense Minister. According to the Defense Ministry, it was a scheduled visit, although it took place amid increased tensions around the Karabakh conflict, “wrote “Nezavisimaya Gazeta”, Russia.

According to the source, Moscow is deeply concerned about official Baku’s statements that Azerbaijani air defense was ordered to shoot down civilian planes that “illegally enter its airspace”. By saying its “airspace”, Baku means the airspace of Nagorno Karabakh as well.

Russian experts say this stance of Baku may lead to a war.

Such a possibility arose after in 2010 Russia sold two batteries of “Favorite” anti-aircraft missile systems to Azerbaijan instead of Iran.

Sources of the Russian Defense Ministry say that after the negotiations between Baku and Moscow over the lease of Gabala radar station had collapsed, President Putin revoked the decision to sell a third battery to Azerbaijan.

The mass media did not report whether Shoygu spoke about the possibility of the Stepanakert airport’s official opening during his meetings with Seerzh Sargsyan and Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian. The Russian Ministry sources say, however, that on the unofficial level the Russian delegation members advised Armenians against doing such a thing. At the same time during the negotiations, special attention was paid to discussion of the details of the draft agreement on military-technical cooperation between Russia and Armenia. The heads of the two countries are expected to sign the agreement in the near future.

“Eventually, Russia sets its face towards Armenia, its main and strategic ally in the South Caucasus. Strengthening Armenia’s military potential is a guarantee of stability in the region. This is a deterrent against Azerbaijan that tries to solve the Karabakh problem by military means,” Lieutenant General Yuri Netkachev said.