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The Struggle for Caucasia

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  • #11
    After the chechen terrorist attacks in Russia, I have a feeling putin will be less likely to back Muslim nations, and Putin, if nothing else, is a very, VERY strong Christian (I've seen the man give speeches on his faith which blew me away). He may not be the best Russian prime minister, but I think he makes Russia a fairly good ally to Armenians while he's still in power.
    "All I know is I'm not a Marxist." -Karl Marx

    Comment


    • #12
      I totally agree,
      What chechen (or chicken) did is something like 9/11 and Russian will never behave same to muslims after that. Only problem is the aboosh turks that are always backed by US, also they have good economic ties with Russians about energy.
      See Mount Ararat from Yerevan...

      Comment


      • #13
        Russian air base in Armenia ready to open fire at NATO planes

        Channel One TV, Moscow
        4 May 04

        Presenter Back in Soviet times airborne troops stationed in
        Transcaucasia served as a reliable defence of the country's southern
        borders. In the mid-1990s Russia's airspace in the area was left
        without any defence. Armenia alone met Russia halfway and allowed for
        the Russian Airborne Troops to remain on its territory.

        Correspondent Aleksey Artemyev Fighters at the Russian air base
        Erebuni have six minutes and not a second more to take off for a duty
        flight and intercept a target that has illegally entered Armenia's
        airspace. The end of the runway and the border with the neighbouring
        country are separated by a distance of 15 km. The neighbouring country
        is Turkey, a NATO member state, with a great number of air bases
        stationed on its territory, including those belonging to the USA.

        Two years ago Russian pilots cut short an attempt by a high-speed spy
        plane to enter Armenia's airspace from Turkey. One should always be on
        alert here. All interceptors on combat duty here are equipped with
        four air-to-air missiles. The two bigger ones are located closer to
        the fuselage and are capable of hitting a target within a distance of
        up to 80 km. The two smaller ones are intended for close combat, they
        are capable of hitting any target within 30 km. The equipment is
        completely ready for combat.

        NATO intelligence is monitoring the Russian air base in Armenia round
        the clock. Two sites for direct tracking are situated on a slope of Mt
        Ararat. The Turkish Air Force are trying to have every Russian pilot
        under control.

        Valeriy Ded, captioned as fighter pilot We do not normally meet them
        in the air. At times we spot them on our radar screens, both on board
        and on the ground. They know every pilot of ours, our voices, if not
        our names.

        Correspondent The Erebuni air base is part of the Russian air defence
        complex situated in Armenia, the only one remaining in Transcaucasia,
        protecting Russia's southern borders. The main air defence forces are
        located high up in the mountains, not far from Gyumri, formerly
        Leninakan. There are four launch pads for air defence missile systems
        Kub and S-300 there.

        We were the only TV crew that was given a chance to film a Russian air
        defence command post on alert duty. Unidentified officer This facility allows
        us to see the sites where the air defence batteries are stationed as well as
        the sectors they are facing. We can give them the whereabouts of a target
        to hit.

        Correspondent This radar station is able to operate within a radius of
        300 km. The nearest NATO airfields in Turkey are situated at a
        distance of about 200 km. In other words, the Russian command post is
        able to spot any plane takeoff from any of the airfields.

        Aleksey Gorskiy, captioned as commander of the combat command and
        control division In May 2001 we began our test alert duty. We did not
        have a right to open fire at trespassers. The Turks used to fly along
        the border all the time. After the alert duty started in earnest in
        October ?2001 , in other words when we were allowed to open fire, they
        hardly ever appear here now.

        Correspondent All the Russian air defence divisions stationed in
        Armenia are working in close coordination with each other. In everyday
        life pilots and anti-aircraft gunners are rivals. The air base is
        proud of its unique barracks, containing fish water tanks,
        mantelpieces and even a small zoo of their own. Meanwhile, the air
        defence system command division claims that they have the best cook
        and cuisine.
        Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

        Նժդեհ


        Please visit me at my Heralding the Rise of Russia blog: http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/

        Comment


        • #14
          The Caucasus Region, in terms of the current cycle of human history which spans the past roughly 80,000 years or so, is the cradle and the 'origination point' of the Indo-European peoples on this planet before their migrations to all points on the 'compass'. There's alot more to this than simply 'territory', but that's for another, more esoteric discussion.

          Armenia is probably one of the very first 'nations' to form from our collective people, and this predates the establishment of it being the 'first Christian nation' -- though there are interesting parallels here. If you're one who looks at history and nature in terms of 'cycles' and apply this to the human arena, you will find that we are very likely at the 'end' of a cycle which is seeing the rapid spread of total destruction on practically every level of human existence. Islam and all other Earth-bound, materialistic ideologies and 'systems' are witness to the 'winding down' of the cycle and the subsuming of the diverse human populations into, well, nothing -- an easily controlled, human mass -- bound by an 'external law' and reduced to nothing more than animals. Though I would caution against using Christianity to 'physically combat' this, Christianity, in its Orthodox and Apostolic fullness, does show a 'way through' the current situation and toward something altogether new in terms of existence. What course our governments will take -- whether they sell out to the 'evil' or stand in defense -- depends entirely on us and our willingness to stand up and take control of ourselves before someone or something else does. The innocent children who were murdered by these animals were only successful because WE failed to open our eyes and take the appropriate measures to defend ourselves from them. This was our wake-up call -- for Armenia -- and for everyone who is still with and 'of' us.

          Comment


          • #15
            Agency WPS/DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
            August 27, 2004, Friday

            ARMENIA BUILDS UP ITS MILITARY MIGHT AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE DEEPENING CRISIS IN THE RELATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN THAT THREATENS WITH FULL-SCALE WAR

            by Samvel Martirosjan (Yerevan)

            The Russian-Armenian military cooperation develops quite dynamically.
            Not long ago, Russia lent a sympathetic ear to Armenia's request
            concerning training of up to 150 officers. Complicated situation in
            the Caucasus forces the authorities of Armenia to pay unfeigned
            attention to national defense. According to official data alone, the
            2004 Armenian state budget allocated almost $82 million for military
            needs, an almost 10% rise against war spending in 2003. Estimates of
            the International Institute of Strategic Studies (London) show that
            in 2002 Armenia was the CIS leader in the arms spending to GDP ratio
            - 6.4%, an equivalent of $162 million.

            The CIA claims that as far as this particular parameter is concerned,
            Armenia is the 11th in the world; it spent $135 million on its army
            in 2001. When the closed parliamentary hearing of fulfillment of the
            2003 budget was over not long ago, Armenian Defense Minister Serzh
            Sarkisjan said that arms spending would be increased next year
            again. Sarkisjan refused to elaborate but said that the Armenian
            national army was initiating a program of rearmament.

            It should be noted that the population of Armenia, not exactly a
            wealthy country, does not object to these measures taken by national
            leaders. The population is perfectly aware of the undeclared war with
            Azerbaijan that is under way. Serious clashes are regularly reported
            in the areas where Armenian and Azerbaijani troops face each other;
            shots have been fired by sharpshooters for a decade (ever since the
            cease-fire on the Karabakh front was signed). Moreover, official
            Yerevan positions itself as a guarantor of security of Karabakh.

            Turkey is another potential enemy. Diplomatic relations with Turkey
            have never been established. Ankara is still blocking the border with
            Armenia and pursuing an openly anti-Armenian policy. Sociologists of
            the Armenian Center of National and Strategic Studies discovered that
            47.5% respondents in Armenia believe that the war with Azerbaijan may
            be resumed within five years, and 7% more expect a Turkish aggression
            within the same span of time.

            Figures

            Armenian national army is considered one of the most combat ready in
            the Caucasus. These days, it is over 60,000 men strong. According to
            the CIA, there are 810,000 men in Armenia aged 15 to 59 and almost
            650,000 of them are fit for combat. Most experts say, however, that
            mobilization resources of Armenia amount to 300,000 men, i.e. almost
            10% of the total population (over 3.2 million).

            Under the Treaty on Conventional Arms in Europe, in 2001 Armenia
            declared 102 T-72 tanks and 204 armored vehicles (most of them
            infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers). With the
            military hardware the Treaty on Conventional Arms in Europe does not
            apply to, Armenia has up to 700 armored vehicles. Its artillery
            comprises 225 pieces of 122 mm and larger calibers including 50
            multiple rocket launchers.

            The Armenian Air Force includes five SU-25 ground-attack aircraft,
            one MIG-25, 35 helicopters (the latter include twelve MI-24 attack
            helicopters), and 3,000 servicemen. Yerevan intends to build up this
            component of its Armed Forces. Not long ago, Defense Ministry of
            Slovenia proclaimed the sale of ten SU-25s to Armenia (nine SU-25K
            one-seaters and one SU-25UBK two-seater). The consignment will cost
            Armenia $1 million. Armenia bought two IL-76 military transports from
            Russia not long ago. The transports were bought at Russian domestic
            prices and made it to Armenia together with Defense Minister of
            Russia Sergei Ivanov.

            Armenia builds up its Air Force in the hope of making it a match for
            the Azerbaijani, but its antiaircraft defense is considered the best
            throughout the Caucasus. Armenian antiaircraft defense comprises an
            antiaircraft missile brigade and two regiments armed with almost 100
            antiaircraft complexes of various models and modifications (Osa,
            Krug, S-75, and S-125). Numerical strength is estimated at about
            2,000 servicemen. Armenian antiaircraft defense developed in a hurry
            in the war over Karabakh when Azerbaijani Air Force regularly and
            energetically bombarded Armenian trenches and settlements both in
            Karabakh and in Armenia's own border districts. There was nothing
            Armenia could do about it then. By 1993, however, it already had a
            formidable antiaircraft defense in Armenia itself and in the Republic
            of Nagorno-Karabakh. Its deployment cut Azerbaijani advantage in the
            sky to the minimum.

            These days, the Armenian skies are controlled by Armenian and Russian
            antiaircraft defense units on joint combat duty since 1999. There are
            at least 30 MIG-29 fighters and a regiment of S-300s quartered on the
            territory of Armenia.

            Allies in the Organization of the CIS Collective Security Treaty

            Armenia is a member of the Organization of the CIS Collective
            Security Treaty. As such, it participates in all events organized
            within its framework. In any case, Russia is Armenia's oldest and
            traditional ally. Ever since the regaining of sovereignty, the tandem
            of Moscow and Yerevan has served as one of the few examples of bona
            fide military-political cooperation in the Commonwealth. There is
            practically no discord between Russia and Armenia in this sphere.

            Russia and Armenia together defend the Armenian airspace or, rather,
            the southern border of the Commonwealth. Armenian borders with Turkey
            and Iran are manned by almost 2,000 Russian bodyguards who serve
            shoulder to shoulder with their Armenian counterparts. Yet, it is the
            102nd Military Base in Gyumri that is Russia's major outpost in
            Armenia. Unlike Tbilisi or Baku, official Yerevan never brings up the
            subject of withdrawal of the Russian troops. When Sarkisjan is asked
            the question, he never answers believing it a rhetoric question.
            Armenian society regards the Russian troops as a covering force
            defending it from the Turkish aggression.

            Until recently, the 102nd Military Base had 74 tanks, 17 battle
            infantry vehicles, 148 armored personnel carriers, 84 artillery
            pieces, up to 30 MIG-23s and MIG-29s, and a regiment of S-300
            antiaircraft complexes. In the last eighteen months, however, a great
            deal of military hardware was moved there from Georgia. Armenia gave
            the land and objects used by the 102nd Military Base over to Russia
            and covers some communal services.

            Officer training is another sphere of Russian-Armenian military
            cooperation. In the first years of sovereignty when Armenia did not
            have military educational establishments of its own, officers of its
            army were trained in Russia. Even now when Armenia has a military
            college on its own territory, the Armenian officer corps honors the
            tradition and is trained at Russian military educational
            establishments. On a visit to Armenia in late May, Ivanov said that
            600 Armenian servicemen are being trained in Russia. "Armenia asks
            for the permission to send 150 servicemen to Russia in 2005, and
            Russia gave its consent," Ivanov said.

            It seems that Moscow and Yerevan do not plan to stop. The first
            meeting of the joint Russian-Armenian government panel for
            military-technical cooperation will take place this autumn. According
            to Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, Russian factories will participate
            in the Armenian program of military hardware modernization. He even
            said that Russia is prepared to supply the necessary spare parts an
            equipment.

            Belarus is another ally of Armenia in the Organization of the CIS
            Collective Security Treaty. The two countries signed a treaty in
            2002. Under the document, Armenia will receive light weapons, armored
            vehicles, ordnance, and optical devices in return for spare parts and
            gadgets for military hardware. Armenia also intends to have its heavy
            military hardware upgraded at Belarusian factories. Lieutenant
            General Sergei Gurulev, Chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian
            Armed Forces, says that the Armenian-Belarusian military contacts
            "become systematic and deliberate."

            Do not forget NATO

            Greece is Armenia's best ally in the Alliance. Greece and Armenia
            share ancient ties and a common enemy - Turkey. Armenian officers are
            trained in Greece. Every now and then Athens puts into motion
            military aid programs. In 2003, the two countries signed another
            military cooperation accord under which Greece will up the number of
            Armenian servicemen trained at the military and military-medical
            academies in Athens.

            Armenia became a peacekeeper in February. It sent 34 servicemen to
            Kosovo where they became an element of the Greek contingent. Armenian
            servicemen in Kosovo are paid by the Greeks. Yerevan has been shifting towards NATO lately, mostly within the framework of the NATO's Partnership for Peace Program. Cooperative Best Effort exercise (the first one where Russia was represented) was run on the territory of Armenia in 2003.

            Armenian cooperation with NATO is mostly declarative for the time
            being, but the United States - the country steadily upping its clout
            with countries of the region - has far-reaching plans with regard to
            Yerevan. In early 2003, the Pentagon announced several major military
            programs in the Caucasus. Washington's military aid to Armenia in
            2004 will amount to $5 million even though the US Administration
            intended to restrict it to $2 million at first. Armenia and the
            United States signed a military-technical cooperation accord in
            April. Some articles in the American media imply that the accord
            specifies the use of Armenian airfields by the US AF.

            Proclaiming complementariness as its foreign political doctrine,
            official Yerevan never misses a chance to advance its contacts with
            Washington. When the war in Iraq was under way, Armenia remained
            neutral. It neither supported the war and America's action nor
            condemned them. These days, however, the parliament and government of
            Armenia are working on the legislation that will enable Yerevan to
            send servicemen to Iraq. The Cabinet already endorsed the decision of
            the Defense Ministry to subscribe to the memorandum "On the command
            and settlement of issues in connection with activities of the
            international division in the forces of coalition in Iraq". At first,
            Armenia will probably send 10 de-miners and 3 doctors and some trucks
            to Iraq.

            Moreover, Armenia even permitted the United States to modernize its
            communications, one of the most vulnerable items. Yerevan expects to
            get communications means from American companies. The deliveries will
            be paid for by the White House (the sum amounts to $7 million).
            Commenting on it, Sarkisjan said that Russia is quite understanding.
            "We are allies. It means that the strengthening of one partner will
            benefit the other," said Sarkisjan. "We initiated the process a year
            ago, and I found our Russian colleagues quite understanding." He said
            that from military cooperation with the United States Armenia
            expected to up combat potential of its own army.

            So, Armenia ups its military might against the background of the
            deepening crisis in the relations with Azerbaijan, the crisis that
            threatens to deteriorate into another full-scale war. It should be
            noted as well that in any conflict the Armenian national army may
            count on servicemen from Karabakh. In fact, the Karabakh army even
            leaves the Armenian behind in some parameters. Karabakh armed
            formations cannot match the Armenian army in manpower (about 20,000
            servicemen and mobilization resources at 60,000 men), but they are
            certainly ahead of Armenia in heavy military hardware: 316 tanks, 324
            armored vehicles, 322 artillery pieces of calibers over 122 mm, 44
            multiple rocket launchers, and the antiaircraft defense system that
            performed flawlessly in the hostilities in the 1990's.

            Translated by A. Ignatkin

            Source: http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg92385.html
            Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

            Նժդեհ


            Please visit me at my Heralding the Rise of Russia blog: http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/

            Comment


            • #16
              Wow! Armenian, all the articles are very interesting and are focusing what I mean.
              Turkey is not a giant, and time will come to take the revenge of our ancestors.
              Only problem may be if these stupid turks join the European Union...
              Otherwise NATO has finished its mission and in the next 25-30 years NATO membership of Turkey will not be an obstacle to attack them from both sides (Greeks and Armenians)
              See Mount Ararat from Yerevan...

              Comment


              • #17
                Itogi.ru

                No. 42(322)
                October 26, 2002

                Transcaucasia / Armies of the World

                Among the multitude of armed formations, which have sprang up
                in the post-Soviet sphere, the Defense Army of Karabakh turned
                out to be one of the most battle worthy.



                [Photo: Camouflaged sniper hiding in the bushes, taking aim.]
                [Caption: Even though Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan reached
                an agreement on ceasefire, sniper war is continuing.]


                [Photo: A commander is inspecting a squad standing at full
                attention.]

                Today people are starting to forget about Nagorno-Karabakh. But
                this small and strongly crisscrossed land, lost in the Caucasian
                heights, which by population size is second to any Moscow region
                (according to the latest information the population of NKR is
                only 145,128), played a colossal role in recent history. It was
                exactly here that the physical deterioration of the last world
                empire started. It was also here that the first war developed
                in the post-Soviet sphere, which put under the doubt the very
                idea of the existence of such a community of people as the Soviet
                People. After begetting a hurricane, Artsakh - the historical name
                of Nagorno-Karabakh - was destined to vanish from the political
                map of the world: the Azeri side had a massive military and
                economic superiority. But thanks to its army, Nagorno-Karabakh
                not only survived, but also enlarged its own borders...

                While getting ready to go to Karabakh, it was not our goal to
                identify who is to blame in conflict, which flickers to this
                day. We were interested exclusively in "technical" issues: how
                was it formed and according to what principles does the army of
                the state function, which instead of official borders has front
                lines and is not accepted de-jure anywhere.

                More Than Guerrillas

                There is no need to explain to the participants of enforcement
                of a "constructive order in Soviet Transcaucasia" who are the
                fedayees. Armed with anything they could get their hands on and
                unclear who they were controlled by, the bearded guerrillas
                (partisans) stood against a no less exotic Azeri fighting
                force. In the beginning stages, military weapons were a big rarity
                here and the character of the military actions was very similar to
                gang fighting on a city level using common makeshift weapons. In
                those times Soviet generals didn't hide their contempt towards
                this "wild war" and its participants. Up to the point when blood
                still wasn't being shed in abundance and humor on military themes
                wasn't too dark, in many headquarters spread throughout
                "smoldering" Caucasus, the Karabakh conflict was referred to as
                the battle between shepherds and cattle breeders.

                The irony was present even when the fighting sides transferred
                into tanks and planes, when instead of gradoboykas (Translator's
                note: guns used for agricultural purposes) they started using
                frontline artillery - as the military warehouses and equipment
                in the region turned out to be more than sufficient. True, in
                Moscow they still hoped that these "peoples' military
                specialists" will never be able to adapt the modern military
                hardware which they inherited after the division of Soviet
                Union. But the hopes were dispersed when the so-called Karabakh
                War, which in Artsakh is considered Patriotic, went according
                to all rules of military art...

                They don't wear beards in the NKR Army any more. It is not
                outlawed, but it is also not encouraged. The outward appearance
                is clean cut - the camouflage is sawn on the local fabric from
                Greek material, thus strikingly resembling NATO. And if we put a
                Russian soldier next to one from Karabakh, the visual comparison,
                unfortunately, won't be in our favor. At the least, we didn't
                see a single soldier with a pitiful appearance, the likes of
                which are abundant even in Moscow. People wear the uniform with
                dignity here, even women and instructors of military-sporting
                schools: 70 percent of the population directly or indirectly
                are considered potential "military assets".

                Big Little Army

                The military budget of NKR is an impressive 20 percent of
                GDP. These kinds of spending percentages are not permissive,
                neither in the United States nor Russia. But to make up for
                it, in the past ten years, gone like a moment, they created
                here a well functioning military structure: infantry, armored,
                rocket-artillery forces, air defense forces, rear logistical
                services and all the necessary military services including,
                a reconnaissance battalion and a special forces unit formed on
                the base of national guard...

                In reality, here they know not only the appropriate place for
                a joke, but also the appropriate time. They warned us still
                in Yerevan that Karabakh Armenians are not only the most kind
                hearted but also the most warlike: from the four famous Soviet
                Armenian marshals, three were from Karabakh. People here, as is
                appropriate for the highlanders, are serious with a no-nonsense
                character. If the decision is taken that everybody must go through
                military service, everybody does it, regardless of the position
                of the parents, two years from start to finish.


                Photo: Soldiers in fatigues sitting in a classroom, watching one
                of their classmates working with a land mine.]

                Ohanian's Line

                We should assume that the Defense Minister of NKR doesn't
                contradict his commander-in-chief all the time. But in any case,
                even for the president it is hard to pressure his military
                minister so easily. The point is that General-Lieutenant Seyran
                Ohanian is not simply a bureaucrat in uniform, but one of the
                thirteen national heroes, whom people respect no less than
                general director of AVPK "Sukhoy" (Sukhoy, famous Russian fighter
                and attack plane design bureau) Michail Pogosian, who also has
                Karabakhi roots.

                Seyran Ohanian has marched from cadet to battalion commander in
                the Soviet Army. He served in the military group in Germany,
                Kirovabad, then in 336th Stepanakert Mechanized Infantry
                Regiment. He says that when the time came to make a choice, he
                went to defend his smaller homeland, as he would probably do if
                he had to, the socialist Fatherland. He was in the command of a
                regiment, afterwards, during the heaviest fighting, he commanded
                the Mardakert front. He didn't leave the battlefield even when he
                was badly wounded and lost a leg. But in 6 months, he was back
                fighting and after signing of the ceasefire, he kept himself
                busy by building military fortifications. He spent his days and
                nights in the field, and worked at such a pace, that even people
                with two legs couldn't keep up with him. It was with his active
                participation that the military training center, of which even
                the elite Moscow facilities can be jealous, was built from zero.

                They almost worship their commander in AOK. For example, the
                massive system of defensive fortifications, which today similar
                to Maginot Line encircles the entire borders of Karabakh, is
                unofficially called Ohanian's Line. During the war, they say,
                Azeris were offering one million dollars for the head of the
                commander of Mardakert front.

                Soviet School

                At the time of our visit, on General Ohanian's work desk there
                was a book by Marshal Shtemenko, "General Headquarters in
                War Years". "We take all that is positive from the experience
                of the Soviet Army and are actively filtering out all that is
                negative." By the way, the 200 thousand strong army of Azerbaijan,
                as is known, is energetically reorganizing according to the
                Turkish style. Even their military step is Turkish nowadays.

                Today, Soviet style (one regiment - one defense region) regiments
                of AOK are countered by two Azeri corps, each with five-six
                brigades. Brigades are formed by six to eight battalions. But
                if opportunity comes, the breakthrough attack will be carried
                out by the elite units, including the Marines, which are now in
                the rear and are carrying out intense military training under the
                direction of Turkish instructors - who are not the worst military
                specialists in the world. That is why the "euphoria of victory",
                ruling now in Stepanakert, seriously concerns Karabakh command.

                Today Azerbaijan's army is several-fold larger in number, than
                the armed forces of Armenia and NKR together. But in Karabakh,
                they think that these forces are not sufficient to break through
                the Ohanian's Line so easily. Besides, here they prepare for
                the possibility of war in real terms: exactly once a week, no
                matter what, soldiers and officers of Artsakh conduct live-fire
                training exercises in the field. They are also replenishing their
                supplies of armaments, even though in the 'pyramids' (armories)
                there are still war-time machine guns. But the main problem is
                the officer cadres.

                From three thousand officers of AOK only forty have served in
                the Soviet Army. Three hundred more went through training in
                Yerevan military academy and in Russian establishments of higher
                learning. Recently Boris Davidov, commander of 4th regiment,
                graduated with honors from All-Military Academy in Moscow. In
                the peaceful past Davidov was the graduate of Timiriazevsk
                Academy. Behind the shoulders of the Deputy Defense Minister
                lieutenant-colonel Aleksan Aleksanian are the Polytechnic
                Institute and the academic courses "Vistrel" (Shot). Students
                from Azerbaijan don't neglect Russian military academies either,
                but as Moscow instructors communicated to "Itogi", officers from
                Karabakh are working harder than all the others.


                Photo: A tank driver looking out from his tank.]

                In Soviet times there was an axiom: if three Armenians served in
                a subdivision at the same time, it meant a guaranteed disorder
                and brothel in the whole stationed division, if there were more
                Armenians - an utter lawlessness would ensue. In simple terms, it
                was thought that it would be impossible to create a regular army
                purely "comprised of Armenians", because it was thought, these
                people were spoiled by the warm climate and abundance of food and
                wealth. For AOK this axiom turned out to be false. At one time,
                Alexander Lebed (famous Russian General and elected governor of
                Krasnoyarsk, who brokered ceasefire in the first Chechen War),
                who visited Karabakh after the war, acknowledged, that the
                battle readiness of AOK is higher than the Russian Army, and
                there is more order. It was not hard to compare the two, because
                the military life and methods of training are almost identical.

                Flying Russian Style

                During the war Karabakhis shot down several dozen Azeri planes and
                helicopters and unfortunately, one of their own MiGs. Following
                that, they themselves would joke bitterly: "After that military
                loss the Armenian Air Force was reduced exactly by a half". In the
                beginning of the war the Armenian military aviation was comprised
                only of two planes. By the way, that unfortunate pilot remained
                alive. He parachuted and landed on the town square where he was
                given a good beating until the anxious defenders of Stepanakert
                figured out what had happened. Now, as the unfaltering sense of
                humor of the Armenian Radio (a line of famous jokes in Soviet
                Union) confirms, during every flight over the capital of NKR, he
                sends advance notification to the Air Defense Forces of Karabakh,
                which are part of Armenia's Air Defense Forces, and thus part
                of CIS'.

                It is not a secret that the planes of Azeri Air Force were
                manned mainly by Russian and Ukrainian crews, who were flying
                for money of course. Some of them were captured. Participants
                of the Karabakh War say that they could visually tell when the
                planes were flown by Russians: the bombs were released not on
                populated areas but in the mountains. One of them even landed
                his plane on the Armenian side. He didn't become national hero
                of course, but he got some applause for making some money and
                in the process not harming fellow Christians...

                On the Border Clouds Are Menacing...

                "We have won only due to our high spirit!" - says General
                Ohanian. In the beginning the defense detachments of Karabakh had
                no military experience, no weapons - the main military warehouses
                were on the Azeri side, furthermore just before their pullout,
                the Soviet Interior Troops carried out a thorough combing of
                Karabakh. That is why they were fighting practically with bare
                hands and trophies, until they secured supplies from Russia
                (remember the scandalous and criminal cases about arms shipments
                of Pavel Grachev's times). Monte Melkonian, (Armenian born in
                Lebanon and Harvard graduate) the legendary in Karabakh commander
                of 2nd regiment, used to make his subordinates account for
                destroying enemy tanks instead of capturing them intact.

                Experience came later. And now, the opponents of the NKR Defense
                Minister are arguing that the military training should be built
                on the basis of their own military traditions. Seyran Ohanian
                prefers a compromise: own military experience plus classic Soviet
                military tactic. According to his opinion, the next war will be
                different - more professional. Here is how they picture the future
                battles in Stepanakert. Before, they thought that with the start
                of the hostilities the first line of trenches will be taken by
                the experienced reservists and the new recruits will take the
                second line of defense. The thinking was that the "old timers"
                will not dare to retreat. General Ohanian thinks differently:
                in order to facilitate the merging of experience and training,
                reservists and new recruits should be mixed in one unit...

                According to Karabakh reconnaissance, there were intense ground
                works on the other side of the frontlines at night and in the
                morning Azeri positions became closer. In some areas two opposing
                armies are separated only by fifty meters. A tank can cover
                that distance in one swing. But colonel Davidov is sure that his
                subordinates will hold: "You can't run from a submarine!" Really,
                Karabakhis have nowhere to retreat.


                [Photo: A squad of soldiers in full gear, fatigues, and camouflage
                on tactical exercises.]
                [Caption: Every day life of Army of Self Defense of Karabakh:
                tactical training, marching, training, and servicing of military

                Source: http://www.itogi.ru/paper2002.nsf/A...21_13_2330.html
                Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

                Նժդեհ


                Please visit me at my Heralding the Rise of Russia blog: http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/

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                • #18


                  The Moscow Times
                  By Kim Iskyan

                  Armenia is one of a small and dwindling number of former Soviet republics
                  that assuages, rather than aggravates, Russia's hurt ego in what used to be
                  its geopolitical backyard. While the special relationship between Russia and
                  Armenia is hardly new, its increasing intensity holds important implications
                  for the smaller country's future, as well as for the balance of power in the
                  Caucasus and throughout what remains of Russia's old sphere of influence.

                  Goodwill between Armenia and Russia has deep historical roots and is
                  sustained by Russia's recent role as Armenia's protector. Russia is the ace
                  up Armenia's sleeve against feared aggression by Turkey, Armenia's
                  historical enemy, and as a deterrent to a renewal of the war between Armenia
                  and Azerbaijan over the disputed enclave of Nagorny Karabakh (during which
                  Russia supplied critical military assistance to Armenia). As a consequence
                  of the war, both Turkey and Azerbaijan blockade their borders with Armenia.

                  Armenia plays eager host to a few Russian bases and a few thousand Russian
                  troops, who patrol Armenia's borders with Turkey and Iran. During the
                  Georgian political crisis in November 2003, the Russian and Armenian defense
                  ministers signed agreements deepening their military cooperation, and, a few
                  days later, then Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov called Armenia
                  "Russia's only ally in the south."

                  Indeed, Georgia appears increasingly determined to remove itself from the
                  Russian orbit, particularly after the recent crisis in Adzharia. And Russian
                  relations with Azerbaijan, never particularly warm, remain dominated by oil
                  concerns. Armenia is one of the relatively few former Soviet republics where
                  Russian troops are welcomed and where they don't have to rub shoulders with
                  the U.S. military, such as in Georgia or Kyrgyzstan.

                  On another front, Russia has staged what appears to be a benign takeover of
                  a number of Armenia's economic arteries.

                  Virtually the entire Armenian energy sector is under Russian control,
                  following the transfer last year of the management of Armenia's critical
                  nuclear power plant, and six hydroelectric plants, to UES as part of a broad
                  equity-for-debt deal. Armenia receives its natural gas from Russia via
                  Armrusgazprom, which is 45 percent owned by Gazprom. Rostelecom is a
                  possible buyer of Armenia's telephone monopoly. Russian financial
                  institutions, often under ethnic Armenian management, are slowly moving into
                  Armenia's banking and insurance sectors. And with Russia one of Armenia's
                  largest trade partners, the health of the Armenian economy is closely linked
                  to that of Russia's, as the slowdown following the 1998 financial crisis
                  demonstrated.

                  Russia is the gray cardinal of the Armenian political scene, in contrast to
                  the meager influence it exerts on domestic politics in most other CIS
                  countries. Prior to Armenia's February 2003 presidential election, President
                  Robert Kocharyan made a pilgrimage to Moscow to receive the blessing of
                  President Vladimir Putin; some analysts viewed the transfer of Armenia's
                  energy assets to Russia as a quid pro quo for Putin's continued support.

                  Indeed, the Armenian government is highly vulnerable to any disruption --
                  inadvertent or otherwise -- of the flow of energy resources from Russia, and
                  works hard to stay in the good graces of the Kremlin.

                  The close links between powerful members of the Armenian diaspora in Russia
                  and Putin spurred rumors recently that Putin, now freed from the distraction
                  of getting re-elected, might become more involved in Armenia's domestic
                  political scene to solidify Russia's position in Armenia. In the meantime,
                  Kocharyan seems to be taking a page out of Putin's handbook on
                  authoritarianism, tightening the state's grip on the media, stifling dissent
                  and otherwise trying to limit the scope for the evolution of a credible
                  opposition.

                  Armenia's official foreign policy is to foster amicable relations without
                  picking favorites -- a rational policy for a small, isolated nation flanked
                  by unfriendly neighbors in an unstable region. Armenia leverages the
                  political clout of the Armenian diaspora in the United States and, to a
                  lesser degree, the European Union, to win governmental aid and assistance.
                  It also hedges its military bets by participating in NATO Partnership for
                  Peace exercises and lending quiet support to the American war on terror.

                  U.S. and EU concerns in the region are focused on the politics of oil and
                  pipelines in Azerbaijan and the Caspian area more generally -- with changes
                  in Georgia now also jockeying for the limited attention that the West allots
                  to the Caucasus. Meanwhile, efforts to deepen relations with southern
                  neighbor Iran (such as through the construction of a natural gas pipeline)
                  receive frosty glares from the West and a mixed reception from Russia.

                  Russia is home to roughly 1.8 million Armenians -- compared with the
                  official, and inflated, figure of 3.2 million inhabitants of Armenia
                  proper -- who send home remittances of roughly $110 million every year
                  (equivalent to 4 percent of GDP), according to the Armenian Foreign
                  Ministry. Not surprisingly, there is no stigma attached to speaking Russian
                  in Armenia, unlike elsewhere in the former Soviet bloc.

                  Armenian dependence on Russia is steadily deepening, binding Armenia's
                  future -- for better or for worse -- all the more tightly to Russia. And as
                  Russian influence in the CIS continues to erode, its role in Armenia serves
                  as a pleasant, if Lilliputian, reminder of what it once had.
                  Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

                  Նժդեհ


                  Please visit me at my Heralding the Rise of Russia blog: http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/

                  Comment


                  • #19
                    BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- China is ready to make joint efforts with Armenia to raise bilateral relations to a new level, said Chinese President Hu Jintao here Monday.

                    Hu made the remark in talks with visiting Armenian President Robert Sedrakovich Kocharyan, who is on his first state visit to China as president. Hu vowed to increase political trust, saying China and Armenia should carry out multi-channel and multi-layer exchanges, keep up political and diplomatic consultations and strengthen communication in such international organizations as the United Nations. The two countries should find new ways to expand trade by taking advantage of their trade cooperation committee, said Hu, adding that China encourages Chinese companies to step up cooperation with Armenia and to increase their investment in Armenia's infrastructural construction.

                    Hu also advocated further exchanges and cooperation between thetwo countries in the fields of culture, education, science and technology, health and tourism. Agreeing with the Chinese president, Kocharyan said Armenia expects deepening bilateral relations with China, since the growing relationship is of great significance to Armenia. China has accumulated much experience in the process of developing its market economy and practicing opening-up policy, which provides a vital opportunity for trade cooperation, said Kocharyan.

                    Armenia recognizes China's full market economy status, hoping the two sides strengthen cooperation in such fields as energy, chemical industry, agriculture and technology, said Kocharyan. Thetwo sides could take proper measures to help the entrepreneurs enhance exchange and understanding to expand cooperation. Hu said China and Armenia have treated each other with mutual respect and equality since they forged diplomatic ties 12 years ago. Hu said he appreciated Armenia's diplomatic policy that puts priority on relations with China, one of the earliest countries torecognize Armenia as an independent nation, and expressed thanks for Armenia's firm support in controversial areas such as Taiwan and Tibet.

                    Kocharyan said the two countries have seen sound economic development and have taken similar stances on international issueswith no political problems. Kocharyan said Armenia would continue to adhere to "One-China Policy" and support China's reunification. After the talks, the two heads of states signed a joint statement and attended a signing ceremony for three cooperative agreements, including an agreement on economic and technical cooperation. End item

                    Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...nt_2030802.htm
                    Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց հայրենասիրութեան այն է, ինչ որ մի մարմին' առանց հոգու:

                    Նժդեհ


                    Please visit me at my Heralding the Rise of Russia blog: http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.com/

                    Comment


                    • #20
                      all these articles are cool, and whats this about Armenia having over 300,000 active troops? That's nuts, The U.S. barely has 160,000 to send to Iraq.

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