Experts on Caucasus-2012 drills: Russia warns Azerbaijan against warSeptember 18, 2012 - 21:57 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Azeri experts commented on Russia-hosted Caucasus-2012 large scale military drills. According to Azeri military expert Uzeir Jafarov, Russia has never seen military exercises of this scale. “President Putin’s attendance leads us to think that the drills are crucial to Russia, with Moscow developing scenarios to repel possible threats. Moscow means to show that events at South Caucasus are not an unsolvable issue to Russia,” he said. Foreign policy expert Farhad Mehdiyev believes the drills might be a hint to Azerbaijan. “Extradition and release of Azeri officer Ramil Safarov, stalemate in Karabakh issue settlement trigger ideas of a military settlement of the conflict. Joint CSTO drills in Armenia followed by Caucasus 2012-military exercises speak volumes.” “Russia is sending a warning to Georgia and Azerbaijan against any thoughts of a war,” the expert said. Azeri diplomat, political scientist Vafa Guluzade, believes Russia is getting ready for a new Caucasus war, while “concealing the actual situation in Dagestan, which strongly opposes Russian pressure.” “The situation in North Caucasus is highly strained; people are striving towards Islam, with Russia having lost its economic, political and military power,” Vesti.az. quoted the expert as saying. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. Ex-President: Only removal of “defeatist” rulers can save Armenia Former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has shared a message on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Pashinyan: We must stop searching for homeland, we have found that homeland Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has shared a message on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. |