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Victor Zubkov's visit is of both Armenia's and
Russia's interest and it should be regarded from this
very point of view
Moscow's fears regarding the expansion of the region
by the USA and NATO are completely justified; however
the expansion is carried out just as it used to be in
the times of the USSR; i.e. the main aim was to scare
the `partner' as much as possible or to leave it
standing in front of a choice.
07.02.2008 GMT+04:00
The visit of Russia's Prime Minister Victor Zubkov to
Armenia on the eve of the elections gave rise to a lot
of conjecture about its aim and outcomes, and it is
mostly believed that the aim of the visit is the one -
supporting Serge Sargsyan in the Presidential
elections. At least this is what the Armenian Mass
Media believes, however missing one very important
detail; it is not the Russian, but the Armenian
citizen who is going to vote. In this regard the
support from the outside has always had the opposite
effect on any candidate's reputation.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ However, one of the reasons of
Zubkov's visit, in our opinion, is supporting Armenia
in the sphere of Russia's influence, because if
Armenia also `goes' to the USA and Europe, Russia will
have nothing to do here. According to the Deputy
Director of the Center of Caucasian Studies at Moscow
State Institute of International Relations Professor
Vladimir Zakharov, at present Russia lacks a
distinguished politics regarding the countries of
Southern Caucasus. `Southern Caucasus is becoming one
of the priority directions of NATO. A new regional
geopolitical plan is being held here, which may leave
Russia out,' said Zakharov.
The Professor also mentioned that Georgia and
Azerbaijan have practically `separated' from Russia.
`Having lost Armenia, Russia will never be able to
return to South Caucasus any more,' he emphasized.
According to him, any armed conflict in Georgia will
become a reason for the USA to enter the region, and
consequently, to prepare for the possible attack on
Iran.
Moscow's fears regarding the expansion of the region
by the USA and NATO are completely justified; however
the expansion is carried out just as it used to be in
the times of the USSR; i.e. the main aim was to scare
the `partner' as much as possible or to leave it
standing in front of a choice. None of them may be
convenient to Armenia. We shouldn't be deluded with
Russia's promises. Other than xenophobia, taking away
lives of the Armenians in Russia, there is one more
very important issue - Turkey. On February 16 the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Ali Babacan is
going to Moscow. The times, when Moscow considered
Turkey an enemy, have long gone. Now Russia is
interested in Turkey, especially in the light of
frequent deteriorations of the relations of Turkey
with the USA. Armenia must be ready to the fact that
in the worst case the year of 1921 may repeat itself,
when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk signed an agreement with
Lenin exchanging the necessary weapon with the
Armenian Issue. From this very point of view Treaty of
Kars signed behind Armenia's back should be
considered.
But all this is a history. For the present the
Armenian-Russian relations are quite stable and have
quite good perspective. After all, it is quite likely
that Russia is going to be the one to establish a new
atomic power-plant, which is already a rather serious
fact. Nevertheless, Victor Zubkov's visit is of both
Armenia's and Russia's interest and it should be
regarded from this very point of view.
According to the Russian Prime Minister, Russia is
Armenia's main foreign investor. `The total bulk of
Russia's investment at the rate of $1 milliard is a
serious argument for our intention of developing the c
o-operation. Joint investment projects are quite
successfully realized. These projects embrace all the
new fields, including the field of nuclear-power
engineering, diamond manufacture, as well as the
sphere of telecommunication,' he said.
Victor Zubkov also mentioned that Russia still holds
the status of the external economic partner of
Armenia. `Over the last two years the two-sided
commodity circulation has grown for 60% and has got
past the point of $700 million, which is a very high
index,' he said. According to Zubkov, `This is not the
limit and the $1 milliard boundary will be past in the
near future.
Serge Sargsyan, confirming his colleague's words,
mentioned that this boundary may be reached in the
near future, since `the potential is much greater'.
«PanARMENIAN.Net» analytical department
Victor Zubkov's visit is of both Armenia's and
Russia's interest and it should be regarded from this
very point of view
Moscow's fears regarding the expansion of the region
by the USA and NATO are completely justified; however
the expansion is carried out just as it used to be in
the times of the USSR; i.e. the main aim was to scare
the `partner' as much as possible or to leave it
standing in front of a choice.
07.02.2008 GMT+04:00
The visit of Russia's Prime Minister Victor Zubkov to
Armenia on the eve of the elections gave rise to a lot
of conjecture about its aim and outcomes, and it is
mostly believed that the aim of the visit is the one -
supporting Serge Sargsyan in the Presidential
elections. At least this is what the Armenian Mass
Media believes, however missing one very important
detail; it is not the Russian, but the Armenian
citizen who is going to vote. In this regard the
support from the outside has always had the opposite
effect on any candidate's reputation.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ However, one of the reasons of
Zubkov's visit, in our opinion, is supporting Armenia
in the sphere of Russia's influence, because if
Armenia also `goes' to the USA and Europe, Russia will
have nothing to do here. According to the Deputy
Director of the Center of Caucasian Studies at Moscow
State Institute of International Relations Professor
Vladimir Zakharov, at present Russia lacks a
distinguished politics regarding the countries of
Southern Caucasus. `Southern Caucasus is becoming one
of the priority directions of NATO. A new regional
geopolitical plan is being held here, which may leave
Russia out,' said Zakharov.
The Professor also mentioned that Georgia and
Azerbaijan have practically `separated' from Russia.
`Having lost Armenia, Russia will never be able to
return to South Caucasus any more,' he emphasized.
According to him, any armed conflict in Georgia will
become a reason for the USA to enter the region, and
consequently, to prepare for the possible attack on
Iran.
Moscow's fears regarding the expansion of the region
by the USA and NATO are completely justified; however
the expansion is carried out just as it used to be in
the times of the USSR; i.e. the main aim was to scare
the `partner' as much as possible or to leave it
standing in front of a choice. None of them may be
convenient to Armenia. We shouldn't be deluded with
Russia's promises. Other than xenophobia, taking away
lives of the Armenians in Russia, there is one more
very important issue - Turkey. On February 16 the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Ali Babacan is
going to Moscow. The times, when Moscow considered
Turkey an enemy, have long gone. Now Russia is
interested in Turkey, especially in the light of
frequent deteriorations of the relations of Turkey
with the USA. Armenia must be ready to the fact that
in the worst case the year of 1921 may repeat itself,
when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk signed an agreement with
Lenin exchanging the necessary weapon with the
Armenian Issue. From this very point of view Treaty of
Kars signed behind Armenia's back should be
considered.
But all this is a history. For the present the
Armenian-Russian relations are quite stable and have
quite good perspective. After all, it is quite likely
that Russia is going to be the one to establish a new
atomic power-plant, which is already a rather serious
fact. Nevertheless, Victor Zubkov's visit is of both
Armenia's and Russia's interest and it should be
regarded from this very point of view.
According to the Russian Prime Minister, Russia is
Armenia's main foreign investor. `The total bulk of
Russia's investment at the rate of $1 milliard is a
serious argument for our intention of developing the c
o-operation. Joint investment projects are quite
successfully realized. These projects embrace all the
new fields, including the field of nuclear-power
engineering, diamond manufacture, as well as the
sphere of telecommunication,' he said.
Victor Zubkov also mentioned that Russia still holds
the status of the external economic partner of
Armenia. `Over the last two years the two-sided
commodity circulation has grown for 60% and has got
past the point of $700 million, which is a very high
index,' he said. According to Zubkov, `This is not the
limit and the $1 milliard boundary will be past in the
near future.
Serge Sargsyan, confirming his colleague's words,
mentioned that this boundary may be reached in the
near future, since `the potential is much greater'.
«PanARMENIAN.Net» analytical department