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• In the name of security or competition?: Military base in Armenia strengthens Russian influence in the region

Well said Avetis.Howevere,the Russians are more concerned of NATO expansionism in the Caucasus than anything else.Look at Georgia. ...

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During Medvedev’s visit, Moscow and Yerevan signed a protocol extending Russia’s lease on the Russian military base in Armenia and expanding “the geography” of its actions. The amended 1995 treaty also commits the Russian military base stationed in the Armenian northwestern city of Gyumri to protecting the security of the whole of Armenia, and not only along the borders of the former Soviet Union as before, but along the entire perimeter of the Republic of Armenia borders.

Pro-government political parties unequivocally supported the treaty, in particular, spokesman for the ruling Republican Party Eduard Sharmazanov said: “Who, if not Russia, shall guard Armenia?”

The main opposition Armenian National Congress and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) also deem that Russia is the only guarantor of Armenia’s security. ARF Executive Council of Armenia representative Armen Rustamyan said on Tuesday that 80 percent or more of Armenia’s security is ensured by Russia.

Hardly no one has publicly voiced disagreement. At the same time, each speaker finds he or she ought to note that the extension of the deployment of the Russian military base in Armenia poses no danger to the sovereignty of the country. The feeling is that politicians respond to accusations that have not been presented by anyone. But this, in turn, means that they are aware of the threat to sovereignty.

The main issue of the debate boils down to whether Russia would intervene if Azerbaijan attempts to renew military operations against Karabakh. President Medvedev gave an evasive answer to this direct question, in fact, not promising interference in the conflict. Other Russian officials also stopped short of commenting on that possibility, but at the expert level, it has been openly stated that Russia would not meddle in an armed conflict.

The leader of the International Eurasian Movement Alexander Dugin told Vesti.az: “Russia may use the factor of its military presence only for one purpose – to prevent a military conflict and, if you will, to restrain Armenia lest it should want to unleash such a conflict.”

There is another question: why was it necessary to extend the term of the base’s lease, if it still had 10 years to go? Experts believe it is because Russia wants to solidly stake its claim for influence in the region, over efforts from the West.

The United States reacted with great restraint to the extension of the Russian military base’s deployment in Armenia. The answer was voiced at the level of a middle-ranking official, who said that it was “a bilateral issue between Russia and Armenia.” Nor has there been any significant reaction from Europe. Armenia’s neighbors have not expressed an official attitude to this fact, and only Azerbaijan policy experts tried to blame Russia, and several nationalists in Baku organized a picket at the Russian Embassy.