Moscow ups military flights over Armenia


A Russian Yak-130 training jet is seen at in this file photo. Russia increases its training flights over Armenia. AP photo
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russian fighter jets are conducting an increasing number of training flights over Armenia, a military spokesman said June 9, days after deadly clashes took place between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The military spokesman, Col. Igor Gorbul, told Interfax news agency that Russian fighter jets stationed at a base in Armenia have conducted about 300 training flights since the beginning of 2012, and have increased the number of flying hours by more than 20 percent from last year, The New York Times reported.

Violence has flared recently along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which have been at war over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian-controlled enclave inside Azerbaijan, for more than 20 years. At least eight soldiers, five Azerbaijanis and three Armenians, were killed in clashes along the border last week.

Col. Gorbul said Russian fighter pilots were preparing for combat. The main emphasis in performing aerobatic elements is made on the ability to apply them in real-life air combat conditions, he said. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week warned of possible disastrous consequences after a flare-up of deadly violence. The Russian Foreign Ministry also said it regarded the border clashes as unacceptable and would continue to try to broker a peaceful settlement.

June/11/2012

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/moscow-ups-military-flights-over-armenia.aspx?pageID=238&nID=22835&NewsCatID=359

---------------------------------------------
GREEK KILLING MACHINES AT THERE VERY BEST!

I get this feeling Azerbaijan is not only getting tough with Armenia because of its military build up but also through support from the west.

Why would the Azeris show there teeth to the Armenians knowing well that it will confront the russians. Could it be that the US is giving clandestine support to the Azeri goverment.

Theres alot of interest invested by the west in regards to oil and also the Iran factor!

---------------------------------------------
GREEK KILLING MACHINES AT THERE VERY BEST!

Why would the Azeris show there teeth to the Armenians knowing well that it will confront the russians. Could it be that the US is giving clandestine support to the Azeri goverment.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lol, After Saakashvili's faith such US back makes very little sense. Aliev is pro-russian but his food comes from the west, russians show the stick and west shows the carrot, that makes him play both sides. in case of a change in russian politics in the future , he would want to have sufficient military to crush armenians but military buildup is mostly a show up for tribunes, at the end he is a politician. Also, azerbaijan building up showing armenia but they can use it on Iran, in case of an israeli/US attack on iran ( sag gosterip sol vurmak) .

Azerbaijan wants to bring the issue of Nagorno Karbagh from one that is cemented in an uneasy status quo to one that can ignite at any moment, hence the timing of these attacks (when a U.S. high level diplomat is in town). It wants to make it seem that the front line is constantly active and that the pipelines/transit routes are in constant threat. It is interesting to note that the skirmishes happened away from Nagorno Karabagh and in a region that is very close to transport corridors. Azerbaijan is also a favorable transit route now that Pakistan closed the land routes.

I also hate to beat a dead horse (it beats studying for finals), but saber rattling gets louder and louder as Azerbaijan posts lower and lower oil production numbers. In 2010 it was 50mln tons, in 2011 it was 45mln tons, in 2012 it will be 40mln, and in 2013 it will be 35mln...and so forth.

I dont know, how much money would it cost for Azerbaijan to buy for example 1000 modern MBTs, 2500 AIFVs, 400 BLCK 60s, etc.. 200 billion USD? Very well..

This power will not be enough to win a battle against Russia ofcaurse but absulutely Russians will think twice and calculate the benefits /losings of a such war for the country called armenia. Also this kind of a huge power on the north, will caurage the southern Azeris against Iran regime.

I think 200 billion is not a utopia for Azerbaijan economy in following years.

------------------------------------------------------------------------