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ARA ABRAHAMIAN: WE NEED CLEAR PERCEPTION OF ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
Azg/arm
22 March 05
- What do you expect from President Vladimir Putin's visit to Armenian?
- Important decisions are, as a rule, being prepared before high-level
meetings. Many institutions are usually engaged in such kind of
preparations and the mass media is informed as well. As far as there
is no such sprightliness in political and media sphere then we can
scarcely expect any major solution.
- Why does the breakthrough in Armenia-Russian economic relations
keep us waiting?
- To achieve that breakthrough we need a united team of politicians,
businessmen, experts and journalists of both countries in order
not only to outline the spheres of cooperation but also control
confirmation of agreements in the parliaments, preparation and
realization of governmental decisions as well as working out an order
of financing projects and election of business structures supporting
the projects.
- What's the activity of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic
Cooperation co-chaired by Sargsian and Levitin?
- There is indeed such a commission, and it is rather active. I
deeply appreciate what Serge Sargsian is doing there. The co-chairs
are in good business relations. There are already some results. But,
as I mentioned, economic relations should not be limited by what is
done on parliamentary or presidential level. We need all other levels
of cooperation I mentioned after bilateral agreements are signed in
order to bring the issue out from political to practical sphere.
- Is that the reason why the enterprises handed over to Russia for
Armenia's debt lie idle?
- That's right. I already had the chance to say that the agreements of
transition do not contain concrete obligations for Russian authorities
to modernize those enterprises and do not set deadlines for their
exploitation The Russian side has not set a company that would be able
to attract investors and to rebuild those enterprises. Armenia should
be more persistent in this issue as it's not crucial for Russia to get
those enterprises working. They are more of political importance for
Russia, as it will show that Armenia is primary for Russia's foreign
policy as a whole.
By the way, there is such a problem in the sphere of providing
the Armenian diamond polishing factories with diamonds. There are
agreements with presidents' signatures but Alrosa is very unsteady
in provision. I think the presidents could agree that Alrosa signed
an agreement with the Armenian company on diamond provision including
provision measure, terms and sanctions of international courts in case
one of the sides neglects obligations. I am sure that Alrosa would
not dare overlook items in the agreement under threat of sanctions.
- What are the issues that will likely top Putin's visit agenda?
- Besides the concrete economic issues I mentioned, I think that
would be expedient to discuss Armenia's role in Russia's regional
strategy especially given Russian-Turkish (goods turnover being
$9 billion) and Russian-Azeri (goods turnover being $1 billion)
economic and military cooperation. I view of growing influence of
Turkey and America in Azerbaijan and Georgia, the Armenian side has
to be concerned with the threat of being politically isolated. The
Armenian side has to give its own clear definition to Armenian-Russian
strategic partnership. Apparently, Russia has to clearly display
its interest towards Armenia by strong economic presence as well as
highlighting Armenia's privileged role in bilateral relations with
the region's states.
Russia has to definitely make understand that it does not apply the
same yardstick to the countries of the South Caucasus and Turkey, and
that Armenia's privileged position in economic and military relations
should be clearly worked out and make known either to the region
or to the whole world. The two countries need a clear regulation of
transportation in order to prevent Armenian citizens and goods from
being maltreated and discriminated as it happened last year when the
Armenian vehicles were blocked on the Russian border.
I think that Armenia should join the talk process over Russian military
base's withdrawal from largely Armenian-populated Akhalkalaki and over
keeping balance of force in the region in general. It is directly
linked with Armenia's security given latter's relations with Turkey
and Azerbaijan.
- It's rumored that you make efforts to release the Armenian pilots
from jail in Equatorial Guinea. Is that true?
- Indeed I had a conversation with the foreign minister Vartan
Oskanian to coordinate our steps. As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, I
am mobilizing all my international contacts to find the most optimal
variant for releasing our compatriots and send them back home. The
issue is somewhat neglected though. I went into this being late but
hopefully we can reach a positive result by the united efforts of
the Armenian diplomacy and my personal international contacts.
- What concrete steps have you taken in this direction?
- I flew in Rome and sought after the Pope's signature on a letter
to the president of Equatorial Guinea with an appeal to release the
Armenian pilots. After that, I met the Director-General of UNESCO,
Mr. Matsuura, in Paris. He also signed a letter on his and on behalf
of UNESCO to the Guinean president asking to release the Armenian
pilots. Proper UN representatives are also into this; a similar letter
with Kofi Annan's appeal is being prepared. I met the high-ranking
representatives of Equatorial Guinea in Paris, and we discussed
conditions of releasing the Armenian pilots.
Considering poor health of some detainees, I stressed on the soonest
release of the sick pilots.
I hope that we will have positive results.
- As we round off, I cannot help asking about your relations with the
Armenian authorities, particularly with President Robert Kocharian,
with Armenian political parties and their leaders and about your plans
concerning the presidential elections in Armenia. The question is
that there are various rumors over all these issues in the Armenian
mass media and political circles.
- Let me answer step by step. I am in normal relations with the
Armenian authorities. I would call it partnership. During my last
meeting with the President I informed him about our plans to carry out
a series of arrangements onoccasion of the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide. The President agreed that many vital for Armenia
issues will hardly find solution without tightening ties with the
Diaspora. I hope our cooperation will become more fruitful in future.
Concerning my relations with politics and political parties in
Armenia, I should say that I am in good relations with either
centrist or oppositional parties and their spearheads. The aim of
the World Armenian Congress and the Russia's Union of Armenians is
to see Armenia stable, and we use our contacts to foster political
stability in the republic. We carry out different arrangements with
different parties. We cooperate in equipping Armenian schools with
computers with some parties and perform benevolent programs with
the others. With the Armenian Revolutionary Party we discussed the
possibility of opening offices for lobbying activities in a number
of European capitals in regard to Turkey-EU talks and its EU bid.
I declare that we never meddled in the elections in Armenia by
financing this or that party, and statements in the political circles
and in the mass media are groundless.
As to my plans over presidential elections in Armenia, I should say,
as I mentioned in a press conference during my last visit, that I will
be actively involved in this elections siding the candidate that will
put forward a clear program of the country's economic growth. Not a
bunch of good wishes but concrete measures, the financial source and
a team that will accomplish all these. Besides, the candidate should
have a comprehensive foreign policy program on Nagorno Karabakh issue,
on coming to terms with Turkey and Azerbaijan. If there is such a
person among the candidates, I will do all possible to support him.
We always spurred consolidation of all political forces for the sake
of nationwide issues' solution. We think also that elections of every
level should be held within the terms set by the constitution and
legislative acts. Prescheduled elections are the result of either
unstable inner political situation or emergency. I would not like
to see Armenia in either of these situations. Moreover, I think that
all kinds of colorful revolutions are not designed for us.
- Do you see any such politician today?
- I think it's early to speak of that. This issue will come to the
practical level in a year, then we'll go into details.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
Azg/arm
22 March 05
- What do you expect from President Vladimir Putin's visit to Armenian?
- Important decisions are, as a rule, being prepared before high-level
meetings. Many institutions are usually engaged in such kind of
preparations and the mass media is informed as well. As far as there
is no such sprightliness in political and media sphere then we can
scarcely expect any major solution.
- Why does the breakthrough in Armenia-Russian economic relations
keep us waiting?
- To achieve that breakthrough we need a united team of politicians,
businessmen, experts and journalists of both countries in order
not only to outline the spheres of cooperation but also control
confirmation of agreements in the parliaments, preparation and
realization of governmental decisions as well as working out an order
of financing projects and election of business structures supporting
the projects.
- What's the activity of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic
Cooperation co-chaired by Sargsian and Levitin?
- There is indeed such a commission, and it is rather active. I
deeply appreciate what Serge Sargsian is doing there. The co-chairs
are in good business relations. There are already some results. But,
as I mentioned, economic relations should not be limited by what is
done on parliamentary or presidential level. We need all other levels
of cooperation I mentioned after bilateral agreements are signed in
order to bring the issue out from political to practical sphere.
- Is that the reason why the enterprises handed over to Russia for
Armenia's debt lie idle?
- That's right. I already had the chance to say that the agreements of
transition do not contain concrete obligations for Russian authorities
to modernize those enterprises and do not set deadlines for their
exploitation The Russian side has not set a company that would be able
to attract investors and to rebuild those enterprises. Armenia should
be more persistent in this issue as it's not crucial for Russia to get
those enterprises working. They are more of political importance for
Russia, as it will show that Armenia is primary for Russia's foreign
policy as a whole.
By the way, there is such a problem in the sphere of providing
the Armenian diamond polishing factories with diamonds. There are
agreements with presidents' signatures but Alrosa is very unsteady
in provision. I think the presidents could agree that Alrosa signed
an agreement with the Armenian company on diamond provision including
provision measure, terms and sanctions of international courts in case
one of the sides neglects obligations. I am sure that Alrosa would
not dare overlook items in the agreement under threat of sanctions.
- What are the issues that will likely top Putin's visit agenda?
- Besides the concrete economic issues I mentioned, I think that
would be expedient to discuss Armenia's role in Russia's regional
strategy especially given Russian-Turkish (goods turnover being
$9 billion) and Russian-Azeri (goods turnover being $1 billion)
economic and military cooperation. I view of growing influence of
Turkey and America in Azerbaijan and Georgia, the Armenian side has
to be concerned with the threat of being politically isolated. The
Armenian side has to give its own clear definition to Armenian-Russian
strategic partnership. Apparently, Russia has to clearly display
its interest towards Armenia by strong economic presence as well as
highlighting Armenia's privileged role in bilateral relations with
the region's states.
Russia has to definitely make understand that it does not apply the
same yardstick to the countries of the South Caucasus and Turkey, and
that Armenia's privileged position in economic and military relations
should be clearly worked out and make known either to the region
or to the whole world. The two countries need a clear regulation of
transportation in order to prevent Armenian citizens and goods from
being maltreated and discriminated as it happened last year when the
Armenian vehicles were blocked on the Russian border.
I think that Armenia should join the talk process over Russian military
base's withdrawal from largely Armenian-populated Akhalkalaki and over
keeping balance of force in the region in general. It is directly
linked with Armenia's security given latter's relations with Turkey
and Azerbaijan.
- It's rumored that you make efforts to release the Armenian pilots
from jail in Equatorial Guinea. Is that true?
- Indeed I had a conversation with the foreign minister Vartan
Oskanian to coordinate our steps. As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, I
am mobilizing all my international contacts to find the most optimal
variant for releasing our compatriots and send them back home. The
issue is somewhat neglected though. I went into this being late but
hopefully we can reach a positive result by the united efforts of
the Armenian diplomacy and my personal international contacts.
- What concrete steps have you taken in this direction?
- I flew in Rome and sought after the Pope's signature on a letter
to the president of Equatorial Guinea with an appeal to release the
Armenian pilots. After that, I met the Director-General of UNESCO,
Mr. Matsuura, in Paris. He also signed a letter on his and on behalf
of UNESCO to the Guinean president asking to release the Armenian
pilots. Proper UN representatives are also into this; a similar letter
with Kofi Annan's appeal is being prepared. I met the high-ranking
representatives of Equatorial Guinea in Paris, and we discussed
conditions of releasing the Armenian pilots.
Considering poor health of some detainees, I stressed on the soonest
release of the sick pilots.
I hope that we will have positive results.
- As we round off, I cannot help asking about your relations with the
Armenian authorities, particularly with President Robert Kocharian,
with Armenian political parties and their leaders and about your plans
concerning the presidential elections in Armenia. The question is
that there are various rumors over all these issues in the Armenian
mass media and political circles.
- Let me answer step by step. I am in normal relations with the
Armenian authorities. I would call it partnership. During my last
meeting with the President I informed him about our plans to carry out
a series of arrangements onoccasion of the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide. The President agreed that many vital for Armenia
issues will hardly find solution without tightening ties with the
Diaspora. I hope our cooperation will become more fruitful in future.
Concerning my relations with politics and political parties in
Armenia, I should say that I am in good relations with either
centrist or oppositional parties and their spearheads. The aim of
the World Armenian Congress and the Russia's Union of Armenians is
to see Armenia stable, and we use our contacts to foster political
stability in the republic. We carry out different arrangements with
different parties. We cooperate in equipping Armenian schools with
computers with some parties and perform benevolent programs with
the others. With the Armenian Revolutionary Party we discussed the
possibility of opening offices for lobbying activities in a number
of European capitals in regard to Turkey-EU talks and its EU bid.
I declare that we never meddled in the elections in Armenia by
financing this or that party, and statements in the political circles
and in the mass media are groundless.
As to my plans over presidential elections in Armenia, I should say,
as I mentioned in a press conference during my last visit, that I will
be actively involved in this elections siding the candidate that will
put forward a clear program of the country's economic growth. Not a
bunch of good wishes but concrete measures, the financial source and
a team that will accomplish all these. Besides, the candidate should
have a comprehensive foreign policy program on Nagorno Karabakh issue,
on coming to terms with Turkey and Azerbaijan. If there is such a
person among the candidates, I will do all possible to support him.
We always spurred consolidation of all political forces for the sake
of nationwide issues' solution. We think also that elections of every
level should be held within the terms set by the constitution and
legislative acts. Prescheduled elections are the result of either
unstable inner political situation or emergency. I would not like
to see Armenia in either of these situations. Moreover, I think that
all kinds of colorful revolutions are not designed for us.
- Do you see any such politician today?
- I think it's early to speak of that. This issue will come to the
practical level in a year, then we'll go into details.