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ARMENIAN POLLS SHOW VARYING PUBLIC OPINION TO PRESSING ISSUES
Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
Nov 3 2006
The results of an opinion poll carried out by the Baltic Surveys/
The Gallup Organization among 1,200 Armenian residents from 31 July
to 10 August on order of the US International Republican Institute
(IRI) were made public this week, Mediamax has said. The first opinion
poll was carried out by the Baltic Surveys/The Gallup Organization
in Armenia in May 2006. The aim of the opinion pools were to compare
their findings and determine differences in public opinion regarding
to foreign policy issues and the Karabakh conflict. The following is
an excerpt from report entitled "Foreign policy preferences of the
Armenian residents" in Russian, published by Armenian news agency
Mediamax; subheadings as published:
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict
A total of 75 per cent of Armenians polled in August and 75 per cent
in May said they considered the swift settlement of the Nagornyy
Karabakh problem "very important". This stability shows that despite
statements made in Armenia from time to time that the preservation
of the existing status-quo is in favour of Armenia, the overwhelming
majority of the country's residents believe that the non-settlement
of the conflict dissembles a myriad of threats. Anyway, like in May,
only two per cent of the respondents said that a quick settlement of
the Karabakh problem was "not very important".
There were no significant changes in the views of Armenia's residents
on ways of settling the conflict. A total of 39 per cent of those
polled in August consider that Nagornyy Karabakh should be an ordinary
region of Armenia without the right to an autonomy. In May, 41 per
cent of those polled supported this opinion. Some 27 per cent of the
respondents of the second survey said that Nagornyy Karabakh should
become an autonomy under Armenia. In spring, 31 per cent of the polled
supported this option.
Thirty-three per cent of respondents polled in August consider that
Nagornyy Karabakh should become an independent state. In May, 27 per
cent supported this idea.
None of the respondents in the both surveys supported the idea of
Nagornyy Karabakh being part of Azerbaijan.
The overwhelming majority of Armenian residents believe that the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict should be resolved peacefully. In August,
82 per cent of the polled supported a peaceful settlement to the
conflict, in May, this totalled 85 per cent.
Relations with Russia
Over 90 per cent of the respondents in both opinion polls answered
positively to the question of "Do you think Russia is a reliable ally
of Armenia?". In August, 46 per cent of the polled answered "yes"
to this question, in May 45 per cent. A total of 44 per cent of the
polled in August answered "probably, yes". This was 42 per cent in May.
Answers of Armenia's residents to the question of "Does the presence
of Russian military bases in Armenia have a positive or negative
influence on Armenia's independence and stability in the country?"
was interesting.
Sixty-seven per cent of the polled in August consider this influence
positive, but this figure was 66 per cent in May. Two per cent of
those polled gave a negative assessment. Not least significance were
answers of those who found it difficult to give definite answers.
Some 15 per cent of those polled in August consider that the presence
of the Russian military bases in Armenia has neither positive nor
negative influence on Armenia's independence (16 per cent in May),
and 12 per cent consider that the military bases have both positive
and negative influence (11 per cent in May)
Relations with NATO and European Union
The number of supporters of Armenia's joining NATO have increased
by two per cent as compared to the survey carried out in May,
and amounted to 42 per cent. If in May, the number of supporters of
Armenia's membership of NATO was 10 per cent of the polled, in August,
this number dropped and totalled 7 per cent. Instead, the number of
respondents who do not rule out the possibility of Armenia's membership
of NATO in future increased from 30 to 35 per cent.
It is interesting that the number of strong opponents of Armenia's
membership of the North Atlantic Alliance dropped considerably. In
May this number was 17 per cent but in August this number decreased
almost twice, and amounted to 9 per cent.
The number of supporters of Armenia's joining the EU grow steadily.
In May 80 per cent of the polled were in favour of Armenia's joining
the EU, in August, this number reached 84 per cent.
Iran's nuclear programme
In May, 56 per cent of the polled in Armenia supported efforts of the
USA, the EU and Russia to prevent Iran from its aspiration to possess
nuclear weapons. In August, the number of those polled increased
by 65 per cent. In May, 11 per cent of the polled were against the
international efforts concerning Iran, in August, this number fell
7 per cent.
Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
Nov 3 2006
The results of an opinion poll carried out by the Baltic Surveys/
The Gallup Organization among 1,200 Armenian residents from 31 July
to 10 August on order of the US International Republican Institute
(IRI) were made public this week, Mediamax has said. The first opinion
poll was carried out by the Baltic Surveys/The Gallup Organization
in Armenia in May 2006. The aim of the opinion pools were to compare
their findings and determine differences in public opinion regarding
to foreign policy issues and the Karabakh conflict. The following is
an excerpt from report entitled "Foreign policy preferences of the
Armenian residents" in Russian, published by Armenian news agency
Mediamax; subheadings as published:
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict
A total of 75 per cent of Armenians polled in August and 75 per cent
in May said they considered the swift settlement of the Nagornyy
Karabakh problem "very important". This stability shows that despite
statements made in Armenia from time to time that the preservation
of the existing status-quo is in favour of Armenia, the overwhelming
majority of the country's residents believe that the non-settlement
of the conflict dissembles a myriad of threats. Anyway, like in May,
only two per cent of the respondents said that a quick settlement of
the Karabakh problem was "not very important".
There were no significant changes in the views of Armenia's residents
on ways of settling the conflict. A total of 39 per cent of those
polled in August consider that Nagornyy Karabakh should be an ordinary
region of Armenia without the right to an autonomy. In May, 41 per
cent of those polled supported this opinion. Some 27 per cent of the
respondents of the second survey said that Nagornyy Karabakh should
become an autonomy under Armenia. In spring, 31 per cent of the polled
supported this option.
Thirty-three per cent of respondents polled in August consider that
Nagornyy Karabakh should become an independent state. In May, 27 per
cent supported this idea.
None of the respondents in the both surveys supported the idea of
Nagornyy Karabakh being part of Azerbaijan.
The overwhelming majority of Armenian residents believe that the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict should be resolved peacefully. In August,
82 per cent of the polled supported a peaceful settlement to the
conflict, in May, this totalled 85 per cent.
Relations with Russia
Over 90 per cent of the respondents in both opinion polls answered
positively to the question of "Do you think Russia is a reliable ally
of Armenia?". In August, 46 per cent of the polled answered "yes"
to this question, in May 45 per cent. A total of 44 per cent of the
polled in August answered "probably, yes". This was 42 per cent in May.
Answers of Armenia's residents to the question of "Does the presence
of Russian military bases in Armenia have a positive or negative
influence on Armenia's independence and stability in the country?"
was interesting.
Sixty-seven per cent of the polled in August consider this influence
positive, but this figure was 66 per cent in May. Two per cent of
those polled gave a negative assessment. Not least significance were
answers of those who found it difficult to give definite answers.
Some 15 per cent of those polled in August consider that the presence
of the Russian military bases in Armenia has neither positive nor
negative influence on Armenia's independence (16 per cent in May),
and 12 per cent consider that the military bases have both positive
and negative influence (11 per cent in May)
Relations with NATO and European Union
The number of supporters of Armenia's joining NATO have increased
by two per cent as compared to the survey carried out in May,
and amounted to 42 per cent. If in May, the number of supporters of
Armenia's membership of NATO was 10 per cent of the polled, in August,
this number dropped and totalled 7 per cent. Instead, the number of
respondents who do not rule out the possibility of Armenia's membership
of NATO in future increased from 30 to 35 per cent.
It is interesting that the number of strong opponents of Armenia's
membership of the North Atlantic Alliance dropped considerably. In
May this number was 17 per cent but in August this number decreased
almost twice, and amounted to 9 per cent.
The number of supporters of Armenia's joining the EU grow steadily.
In May 80 per cent of the polled were in favour of Armenia's joining
the EU, in August, this number reached 84 per cent.
Iran's nuclear programme
In May, 56 per cent of the polled in Armenia supported efforts of the
USA, the EU and Russia to prevent Iran from its aspiration to possess
nuclear weapons. In August, the number of those polled increased
by 65 per cent. In May, 11 per cent of the polled were against the
international efforts concerning Iran, in August, this number fell
7 per cent.