‘What Do We Need Russian C-300 For?’ Azerbaijani Analysts on Medvedev’s Baku Visit

All the agreements that were reached during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Baku can be considered a recording of intentions and it’s not known whether they will be carried out or not, said political analyst Vafa Guluzadeh.

“Those agreements are necessary so that at least some significance is conveyed by Dmitry Medvedev’s Baku visit. Visiting our country, the Russian president wanted to balance his visit to Armenia, where anti-Azerbaijan documents of a military nature were signed,” said Guluzadeh. 

According to Guluzadeh, some of the documents signed by Medvedev during his visit could’ve been coordinated otherwise. For instance, Russia’s and Azerbaijan’s deputy foreign ministers could’ve signed a state border document, and Gazprom and SOCAR directors could’ve signed the natural gas agreement.

“As for acquiring C-300 [missile devices], I consider that a provocation. What do we need Russian C-300 for, if no one is threatening Azerbaijan other than Armenia?” asked the analyst. 

Another Azerbaijani political analyst, Zardusht Alizadeh, also agrees with Guluzadeh and considers Medvedev’s Baku visit to be just a formality. 

“There’s lots of talk on C-300, however, I don’t think that that acquirement has any meaning for us [Azerbaijan] since Armenia doesn’t have such a powerful air force [as Azerbaijan does],” said Alizadeh.