Azerbaijan Russia’s new “strategic” partner in Caucasus

Azerbaijan Russia’s new “strategic”

partner in Caucasus

August 18, 2010 18:18
Russia is building up its relations with all its partners on equal terms, considering common interests. Russian-Armenian cooperation follows the logic of bilateral partnership and meets the interests of both of them, Alexey Ostrovsky, Chairman of the Committee for CIS Affairs, RF State Duma, told RIA Novosti.
According to him, longer presence of the Russian military base in Armenia will contribute to regional stability. It meets Armenia’s interests, without affecting Azerbaijan’s.
“I do not see any reasons for Azerbaijan’s concern over this decision by President Medvedev,” Ostrovsky said. He does not rule out Azerbaijan may voice its concern. Ostrovsky called Azerbaijan “another strategic partner and ally of Russia in the region.”
According to him, Russia is building up equal relations with all of its partners.
“I do not think we should look for a grey cat in the dark. It is normal cooperation, which follows the logic of the years following the USSR’s collapse. It is one of the steps. I think others will be made. I am sure cooperation with Azerbaijan will be simultaneously developing,” Ostrovsky said.
By maintaining its military presence in the Caucasus, Russia maintains its status of regional superpower, which defends not only its own interests, but also those of its partners, Ostrovsky said.
“I think that, with the situation in the Caucasus being complicated and the Iran-related developments unclear, Armenia is interested in Russia’s military presence in the region – Russian armed forces are most significant in the post-Soviet area, particularly in the Caucasus,” Ostrovsky said. No doubt, Russia is interested in an early settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Evidence thereof is a consistent policy by the Russian leadership, particularly by President Dmitry Medvedev, as well as the recent meetings of the Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders.
NEWS.am reminds readers that Russia and Armenia plan to sign a protocol on amendments to the bilateral agreement on the Russian military base in Armenia. The agreement will be in effect for 49 years, and can be prolonged for 5-year periods.

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