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ARMENIA'S STATEHOOD IS ESTABLISHED, BUT EMIGRATION STILL UNDERMINES STATEHOOD - POLITICAL ANALYST
news.am
Sept 21 2011
Armenia
Armenia's statehood is established, and that is the main achievement
of the 20 years of independence, the Carnegie Endowment's Russia and
Eurasia Program Senior Associate Thomas de Waal told RFE/RL Armenian
Service.
"If 20 years ago the question was whether it is possible to build
Armenian statehood, today the answer is affirmative. As for the
shortcomings and weaknesses, those are the economic dependence
on Russia and the [Armenian] Diaspora. In addition, emigration
still undermines Armenia's statehood. First and foremost, however,
independence is a political phenomenon. Armenia's leadership can
make its own decisions, in the case when Russia or America is trying
to enforce decisions, and the Armenian government can reject such
requirements, and this first of all refers to the Karabakh conflict,"
Thomas de Waal noted. "All conflicts resolve sooner or later, but I
currently observe such impasse and standstill in the Karabakh peace
process that it is difficult to speak about any progress."
De Waal argued that only the awareness of the terrible consequences
of resuming war operations could help to the latter's prevention.
"Even though there is a peace process and there are mediators, the
key to resolve the conflict is not in their hands, but in the hands
of the Armenians and the Azerbaijanis," he added.
Thomas de Waal stressed he did not see any progress in Armenia in
terms of democratic development in the past 20 years.
"Without a doubt, Armenia is currently a stronger country than 20
years ago, but it is not freer," the analyst noted. "Of course,
Armenia is not an authoritarian state, and the Armenians have fairly
developed traditions of pluralism, and open discussion and debate,
but sadly these [traditions] are not observed in modern-day Armenia.
Perhaps this is a temporary phenomenon, but the problem which Armenia
faces today is that it is losing its valuable [human] resources."
From: Baghdasarian
news.am
Sept 21 2011
Armenia
Armenia's statehood is established, and that is the main achievement
of the 20 years of independence, the Carnegie Endowment's Russia and
Eurasia Program Senior Associate Thomas de Waal told RFE/RL Armenian
Service.
"If 20 years ago the question was whether it is possible to build
Armenian statehood, today the answer is affirmative. As for the
shortcomings and weaknesses, those are the economic dependence
on Russia and the [Armenian] Diaspora. In addition, emigration
still undermines Armenia's statehood. First and foremost, however,
independence is a political phenomenon. Armenia's leadership can
make its own decisions, in the case when Russia or America is trying
to enforce decisions, and the Armenian government can reject such
requirements, and this first of all refers to the Karabakh conflict,"
Thomas de Waal noted. "All conflicts resolve sooner or later, but I
currently observe such impasse and standstill in the Karabakh peace
process that it is difficult to speak about any progress."
De Waal argued that only the awareness of the terrible consequences
of resuming war operations could help to the latter's prevention.
"Even though there is a peace process and there are mediators, the
key to resolve the conflict is not in their hands, but in the hands
of the Armenians and the Azerbaijanis," he added.
Thomas de Waal stressed he did not see any progress in Armenia in
terms of democratic development in the past 20 years.
"Without a doubt, Armenia is currently a stronger country than 20
years ago, but it is not freer," the analyst noted. "Of course,
Armenia is not an authoritarian state, and the Armenians have fairly
developed traditions of pluralism, and open discussion and debate,
but sadly these [traditions] are not observed in modern-day Armenia.
Perhaps this is a temporary phenomenon, but the problem which Armenia
faces today is that it is losing its valuable [human] resources."
From: Baghdasarian