Rasim Musabeyov
Reports that Russia is to sell S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to Azerbaijan are fact, not rumour, according to analyst Rasim Musabeyov.
"The sale of the S-300 anti-missile system is a good deal for Russia, since it brings in ready cash," Musabeyov said in an interview with Novosti-Azerbaijan news agency.
A source in the Russian Defence Ministry has confirmed Moscow’s readiness to sell two divisions of S-300 PMU-2 Favorit anti-missile systems to Azerbaijan in a deal worth around $300m, according to Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta.
"This is the biggest deal with the CIS countries in Russia’s independence and it may become the start of full-scale military and technical cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia. This deal contrasts with the habit of other post-Soviet countries to ask Russia for arms on credit or as a freebie," Musabeyov said.
He also commented on proposed changes in a protocol to the Russian-Armenian agreement on the location of a Russian military base in Armenia.
"The changes being made to the Russian-Armenian agreement on the military base in Gyumri are legalizing what is going on anyway," Musabeyov said.
The changes include the wording that, "As well as carrying out functions to ensure the security interests of Russia, the Russian military base on the territory of Armenia ensures the security of the republic jointly with the Armenian armed forces."
To help them do this, Russia “helps to supply Armenia with modern arms and (specialized) military hardware".
"Everyone is already aware that the Russian military base in Gyumri is half Armenian and that Armenian servicemen can use the base's military hardware in the event of a case of conflict. In other words, the proposed changes contain nothing new," Musabeyov continued.
He said the changes were probably designed to overcome Armenian fears about security.
"If Russia manages to dispel Armenian fears and Yerevan's position in negotiations becomes constructive, Azerbaijan would benefit and we would not object. But if this assistance promotes the Armenians' impudence and leads to them raising their requirements at the negotiations, Moscow will only lose throughout the region," Musabeyov said.
Novosti-Azerbaijan
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