AZERBAIJAN BROADENS CRITICISM OF RUSSIA’S MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN THE REGION.

The Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan yesterday issued a statement of concern over the military agreements, reached during Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeev’s recent visit to Armenia. The statement substantiates the “alarm” just expressed in more general terms by President Haidar Aliev’s senior adviser Vafa Guluzade. (See the Monitor, July 20)

The Ministry specifically objects to Moscow’s intent to deploy S-300 missiles in Armenia, enlarge the scope of Russian-Armenian troop exercises on Armenian territory, re-equip Russian troops there and supply more modern arms to Armenian forces. These plans, Baku charges, “represent a gross violation by Russia of the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe” and “destabilize the Caucasus.” (Turan, July 20)

In Moscow, the Defense Ministry newspaper Krasnaya zvezda has confirmed the intention only indirectly stated by Sergeyev, regarding deployment of Russian S-300 missiles in Armenia. The missiles are to replace the obsolescent S-75 and S-125. (Krasnaya zvezda, July 17. For specifics on the Russian-Armenian military agreements see the Monitor, July 16)

AJARIA FOLLOWS ABKHAZIA IN REJECTING GEORGIAN BORDER TROOPS.