Russia's susceptibility to Western interests in Caucasus irritates, Markedonov saysMarch 3, 2007 - 14:27 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia should demonstrate a sober approach to the possible installation of American anti-missile defense system in the Caucasus, said Sergey Markedonov, the head of the department of international relations at the institute of political and military studies. "There is a lack of pragmatic talk among competent people and military experts. What kind of consequences may it have?" he said. Meanwhile, yesterday Lt Gen Henry A. Obering, the Director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) told a news conference in Brussels that the U.S. is going to consider the possibility of installation of anti-missile defense radar somewhere in the Caucasus. The outlook of an American radar near Russia should become a signal for a thorough debate on relations with the West, Markedonov said. "I see that the big number of challenges, including the Islamic extremism, terrorism, and unpredictable regime throughout the post-soviet space, unite Russia and the West. Under such circumstances we must not engage into collision with the West," the expert said. "Certainly, the West has its own interests in the Caucasus but Russia's susceptibility to these interests irritates. Who forced us to lay down terms to Azerbaijan in an effort to make it join Georgia's blockade? Who forced us to transform Armenia into a state suffering from the Russia-Georgian relations and thus push it towards the West? I am not speaking of the Abkhazian and South Ossetian problems now. These are priority issues for Russia and a compromise with Georgia will hardly be found. Nevertheless, there are plenty of issues that demand western presence, first of all the Caucasian formations themselves," Markedonov said, reports the Caucasian Knot. 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 | Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Armenia: Rescue workers restore pedestrian bridge for flood-hit community Rescue workers on Wednesday, June 5 restored a pedestrian bridge in the town of Alaverdi in Armenia’s north. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. For the first time, Armenia votes in favor of Georgia resolution in UN Armenia on Tuesday, June 4 voted for the first time in favor a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. |