The Path to Democracy: Dragunov Sniper Rifle

First let's identify the photo: it shows an Armenian Special Forces soldier with a Russian-designed Dragunov sniper rifle, a fearsome semi-automatic weapon that is effective to a range of one kilometers. Think about that for a second, which coincidentally is also the length of time it will take the bullet to get to its farthest target.

What does this have anything to do with Armenia? Besides a glimpse into one of the weapons used by our countrymen, quite a bit. You see, when a given government grows too powerful and too corrupt, it begins to act in a way which is not in harmony with the will of the people and it can get away with that because of its power and the fear that it inspires in people. But what if the government was to be held accountable for its actions, afraid of the very people who created it and who continue to support it, at least for as long as they choose? What if everyone had a Dragunov sniper rifle and the knowledge that anyone in power caught abusing it would be destroyed without questions asked?

Of course, this is all metaphor. Until such power is exercised by the people Armenian, we will continue to see a government acting in its own interest only.

Then again, maybe it's not a metaphor at all; after all, revolutionaries need to be well armed!

Source: mil.am

Russia Moves Military Equipment from Georgia to Armenia

In an agreement reached last year, Russia has to remove its military presence from Georgia. Hmm, where to move all those weapons to?

A truck convoy carrying military equipment from a Russian military base in Georgia crossed the border with Armenia...The military convoy left the Akhalkalaki base in the south of the country heading for Gyumri (Armenia), where the 102nd Russian military base is located...

The base already contains over 30 Mig-29s and other advanced weapons.

We need Russia on our side. Until we have enough revenues to build a modern army ourselves, we have to continue doing what we're doing.

Source: RIAN

Armenia Not Worried About Azeri Military

Looks like there is a particular lifeline which should keep Armenians sleeping calmly.

Armenia is not nervous for Azerbaijan’s active arming, stated Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia colonel-general Mikayel Harutyunyan.

“Azerbaijan himself decides what armament it wants to have. The main thing is that very armament must be within the framework of the quotas. As to the situation on the contact line of NKR army with Azeri armed forces, as well as the Armenian-Azeri border, everything is relatively calm. There is no significant tension there,” Harutyunyan underscored.

Quotas then. But I beg to differ that "everything is relatively calm" at the borders.

Source: PanArmenian

Removing Unexploded Mines from Karabakh

Here are just a few snippets from the article, but I encourage you read the whole thing.

Although both Armenian and Azerbaijani forces used land mines during the Karabakh conflict, HALO has received information about mine placement only from the Armenian and breakaway Karabakh governments. HALO currently employs 210 local residents in de-mining and support program operations.

Some 287 mine-related casualties or fatalities have been recorded in Karabakh since 1995, the organization says. Another 215 accidents have occurred. As of December, only two fatalities were recorded in 2006, and nine accidents with anti-personnel mines or unexploded ordnance took place.

Though HALO claims that Karabakh has the world’s highest incident of mines per capita (one per 13 residents, three times the number in Afghanistan), finding funding for mine clearance in the territory has been a challenge, according to Kumnova. The program manager charged that Azerbaijan’s suspicion of HALO’s operations lies at the root of the problem.

Kumnova estimates that another five to six years remain before the territory can be considered "mine-impact free." HALO has cleared about 16 million square meters of land to date; another 10 million square meters remain.

An interesting article with frightening statistics. No matter which side you're reading this from, I'm sure you will agree that mutual cooperation and funding is the only way to quickly prevent more innocent deaths.

Source: Eurasianet

Russia Supplies Advanced Weapons to Iran

While not directly related to Armenia, this is a noteworthy - or rather, blogworthy - development.

Russia undertook to supply 29 Tor-M1 missiles to Iran under a $700 million contract signed at the end of 2005. The United States protested the deal, which it feared could bolster the military capabilities of the Islamic Republic, classified by Washington as a "rogue state" and part of "the axis of evil."

The Tor-M1, developed by the Russian company Almaz-Antei, is a high-precision missile system designed to destroy aircraft, manned or unmanned, and cruise missiles flying at an altitude of up to 10 kilometers (6 miles). It was introduced at the Russian aerospace show MAKS in 2005.

Iran is Armenia's ally, but it is the enemy of the western superpower. Should a war ever break out between the two, it is clear that Russia will support Iran militarily. Since Armenia has important connections to all three countries, it is in a bit of a strange position.

Source: RIAN

Serbian Arms Finally Ready for Export!

Whatever objections there may have been, the company is cleared for business:

The day before Serbian Company Zastava got permission to export arms to Armenia, RFE RL reports. Dragolyub Gruevic, the manager of ‘Zastava’ factory in Kragujevac, stated that the cost of deal makes $1.75 million. He also said the company awaits one more permission for a deal of $ 900 000.

It’s worth reminding that Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic roughly criticized the possible deal to sell armaments to Armenia.

It is worth mentioning that officials in Armenia do not confirm Arms deal with Serbia.

I would love to know exactly what models of rifles and other weapons they are purchasing. And unlike the USAid numbers, these aren't available to the public!

Source: PanArmenian

Serbia's Foreign Minister Opposes Sale of Weapons to Armenia

Another story today that was originally reported quite a bit ago. This time the opposition is much closer to Serbia.

We have long declared that the OSCE has imposed an arms embargo on Armenia and Azerbaijan because of the conflict in Nagornyy-Karabakh and that there is an instructive Resolution 8153 by the UN Security Council that requires all countries to refrain from supplying "any arms or ammunition to Armenia or Azerbaijan." underlined [Serbia's Foreign Minister Draskovic.

Then there is the decision by the US Government to discontinue business with countries that violate arms embargoes. Since the Kragujevac arms manufacturers earn more than 20m dollars a year from exporting arms to the United States, there is a big risk of losing 22m dollars because of that 2m dollars deal with Armenia, but from the outset I have thought that the state should compensate the arms manufacturers.

It's hard to argue with that, but why was any sort of business initiated knowing full well that there was an embargo? Something seems fishy.

Source: PanArmenian

Simple Comparison of Military Power: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Turkey

I saw a video of Armenia's air force a while back and decided to investigate our military power and that of our neighbors. Because of certain agreements to which these countries are party, there is a lot of available information on the internet. However, some sources gave differing numbers, so I've had to make certain estimates for your reading pleasure.

Armenia
Active Troops: 60,000
Aircraft: 16
Tanks: 110
Expenditure, 2005: $162 million

Azerbaijan
Active Troops: 126,400
Aircraft: 172
Tanks: 270
Expenditure, 2005: $300 million

Turkey
Active Troops: 1,043,550
Aircraft: 430
Tanks: 4,265
Expenditure, 2005: $9.8 billion

Russia
Active Troops: 1,037,000
Aircraft: 3,200
Tanks: 22,800
Expenditure, 2005: $18 billion

As I said above, these may not be completely accurate due to different sources. However, the message is clear: even though our forces are more experienced and will compensate for lack of some very important military equipment, it is in our absolute best interest to remain very close friends with Russia.

Sources:
ArmeniaNow
U.N. Disarmament Web Site
WikiPedia

Russia Approves Serbia's Arms Sales to Armenia

First Russia, and now Serbia.

President Boris Tadic said "the issue has been successfully resolved" in his meeting with Russia's ambassador to Belgrade, Aleksander Alexeyev, who has given "a positive response" to Serbia's appeal that the Zastava arms company is allowed to sell guns and rifles worth US$2.55 million (€1.94 million) to Armenia.

Earlier this month Zastava criticised the Serbian government for withholding permission for its previously arranged sale to Armenia, allegedly because Russia — Serbia's traditional ally — objected to the Serbian supplier venturing into a market usually supplied by Moscow.

It's about time Armenia upgraded its weapons. I'd rather they never see much use, but one can never rule out certain possibilities.

Source: IHT

Russia Arms Armenia, Azerbaijan Objects

Here's one of those fearful S-300s!

It's no surprise that Azerbaijan is up in arms (no pun intended) about Russia's supply of several potent anti-aircraft missiles to Armenia.

Russia plans to supply the 102nd base and Armenia’s Air Defense Troops with several anti-aircraft missiles S-300.

Azerbaijani Defense Ministry condemns Russia’s supplying Armenia with arms. The ministry press service officer Ilgar Verdiyev told the APA that Armenia stations the armaments in occupied Azerbaijani territories.

“Azerbaijan and Armenia joined the European Firearms Convention. We want the regional states to observe the terms of the contract,” he said.

Source: APA