The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute released a new report about the volume of arms’ trade in the world. According to this report, 1.6 percent world’s arms imports for the period of 2009-2013 fell on Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan ranks the second by the volume of arms imports and slightly is behind the UK. Moreover, 80 percent imported weapons in the last 4 years Azerbaijan had purchased from Russia. In this regard, on March 19, in an interview with journalists of Aravot.am, President of “Asbarez” club Levon Barseghyan said, “We are in a very, very difficult situation. Russia has an easy explanation that ours is good, they should buy ours, if not ours, they will buy others, what’s the difference to you? The buyer will eventually buy.” According to Levon Barseghyan, relying on strategic allies is a blunder. “History has several examples, which proved that any ally enters into alliance not just for beautiful eyes. It has its own interests. The government is obliged to be wise, but, as you can see, this is not given to us. Who have seized the power in Armenia, we are not distinguished with such qualities. Whatever strategic ally dictates, Serzh Sargsyan will execute. Evidence, September 3 turnover. Tomorrow, if Putin suddenly calls Serzh Sargsyan to Moscow and says that you will enter, let’s say, the list of countries of Oceania, Serzh Sargsyan will give a press conference in the Kremlin and will tell that Armenia had expressed a wish to join the Union of Oceania. What’s wrong with it? We have a very ludicrous and insane government. To wait that these people will make an equal alliance with the strategic partner, no, that’s not going to happen. These are dictator and vassal relationships. If the Azeri blindly tries using that many arms and munitions against Armenia, it is clear that we are intelligent, skilled, we have experience, we won, however, it will inflict a tremendous damage to us. Is this your strategic alliance? According to the report, Azerbaijan had purchased from Russian Federation 2 units of S-300 type of missile system, 94 units of T90S tanks, 20 units of Mi-35M military helicopters, 100 units of BMP-3 armored vehicles and other heavy weapons. They purchased from Belarus 25 units of SU-25 military aircrafts, 93 units of T-72M1 tanks. From Ukraine – 2 units of MiG-29 military planes and 12 units of Mi-24G military helicopters. To our question of whether Azerbaijan had purchased so many arms and munitions to scare us, or, we can assume that it is really serious about going to war, Levon Barseghyan responded, “I will tell you my 100 percent belief that they can not make war against Armenia. I do not want to say that we are a divine nation, but we have our serious geographical and moral achievements and positions. It is not eternal and unlimited. The Republic of Armenia is also purchasing arms and it’s doing fine, simply we do not know the details of it what we know about Azerbaijan. Regardless of the size of the procurement, in the geopolitical arrangements, Azerbaijan is not yet ready and still will not be ready for a long time to try to move in the field militarily. I consider many factors, starting from ethnic diversity, economic corruption, developing in one direction: oil, gas, and the state corrupt system. This country is in more critical condition that our country. They will not dare. In visible future, so far I do not notice that it can put the weapon into a direct practice. It is not excluded that there is a huge corruption in these procurements.”
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
