Russia warns of threat of conflict along bordersNovember 17, 2011 - 18:01 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia's top military commander warned on Thursday of a growing threat of conflicts along its borders that could even escalate into a nuclear war. "The possibility of local armed conflicts along nearly the whole border has increased sharply," General Nikolai Makarov said, citing the fact that many of the country's Soviet partners are gravitating towards NATO. The Baltic states and Eastern European countries in the Soviet-era Warsaw Pact defence treaty have already joined, while Georgia and Ukraine have expressed a desire to join the Western defence alliance that was once the menace of USSR and is still considered Russia's enemy by conservatives. "In certain conditions I don't rule out local and regional armed conflicts developing into a large-scale war, including using nuclear weapons," Makarov said, RIA Novosti reported. Russia fought a short war with its former Soviet partner Georgia in August 2008 over a contested region near Russia's southern fringe. The two countries remain bitter enemies as Georgia is strongly pursuing NATO membership. Russia has borders with nuclear weapons powers China and North Korea and is also deeply concerned about the risk of a conflict between nearby Iran and Israel over Tehran's controversial atomic programme. Makarov's hawkish remarks come as the country is also in the midst of a complicated and costly military reform, while facing a demographic crunch in its army ranks. "We can only draft 11.7 percent of all youth," Makarov said, complaining that most are ineligible for health reasons. "We are facing the fact that there is almost no one to draft into the armed forces," he said, according to AFP. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | About 173 million drams and more than 30 beneficiary funds. "The Power of One Dram" is 4 years old In June 2020, the exclusive joint corporate social responsibility initiative of Idram and IDBank "The Power of One Dram" was launched. CSTO budget “to be adjusted due to Yerevan’s non-payment of contributions” The CSTO budget for the current year requires adjustments due to the refusal of Yerevan to pay their share of contributions. Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha. Armenia: Protesters march to parliament, some spend the night on street The protesters did not disperse despite heavy rain that began at around 2 a.m. local time. |