Armenians frightened by Baku arms show

By Kamal Ali

From time to time Armenia media, obviously panicked, report about Azerbaijani arms deals with Russia and Israel. They claim that the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization has no desire to come to Armenia’s help if war resumes with Azerbaijan.    

A short article posted on Lragir.am on Sept 11 is a vivid example of that. The report without a byline says that Russia brought military helicopters to Baku to showcase them at an arms exhibition. 

It is presented in a way as though Russia will leave the choppers in Baku after the exhibition and Azerbaijan will immediately use them to bomb Armenian military unit No 33651 in Azerbaijan’s occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region.  

Azerbaijan’s capital Baku is indeed playing host to an arms exhibition called ADEX-2014. Russia has brought KA-52 Alligator attack and reconnaissance helicopters to display them at the show. 

The author is quick to add: “Russia has provided Azerbaijan with commercial and military helicopters. They [Azerbaijan and Russia] are expected to sign an agreement on Alligator as well.”

It seems that the Armenian fear is prompted by Azerbaijani media reports that President Ilham Aliyev visited the exhibition and took an interest in the Russian helicopter. Armenians fear that Azerbaijan will agree to buy hundreds of Alligators from Russia. This would be their worst dream. 

The author continues to frighten himself and his readers further: “Incidentally, Russia was not allowed to participate in an air show in the UK. The EU is considering sanctions against Russia’s military and industrial complex. This can lead to significant growth of deals between Russia and Azerbaijan in this field.”

Such panicking forecasts in the Armenia media are reflective of the extend of fear of Azerbaijan.

Bakudaily.Az