Tweet
EXPERT: WILL RUSSIA BUILD RADAR STATION IN ARMENIA INSTEAD OF THAT ONE IN GABALA?
Trend
April 11 2012
Azerbaijan
The editor in chief of the Bulletin of the Caucasus information
and analytical agency, the deputy dean of the History Department
of Moscow State University, a member of the Trend Expert Council,
a political scientist, Alexei Vlasov, specially for Trend.
Will Russia build a radar station in Armenia instead of the radar
station in Gabala, price on which has been increased by Azerbaijan
from $7 million to 300 million?
Moscow has not yet answered to the proposal, announced by Armenian
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan in an interview with Kommersant. The
Armenian and Russian experts comment this proposal currently, and
mostly positive. There is even an opinion that Russia's proposal is
revolutionary in terms of regional security.
In fact, everything is much more conservative. Simply, for many years
Armenian authorities can not achieve Russia to build anything in
Armenia. Armenia sought to build an oil refinery on the border with
Iran during Robert Kocharian's presidency but Russia has refused,
saying that it was an unprofitable project.
Then Armenia wanted Russia to invest in the companies obtained by
the latter as a result of Armenia's external debt, but Russia did
not use these companies and the establishment of free economic zone
on the territory of "Mars" plant is still very doubtful.
Then, Armenia wanted Russia to build a new nuclear power plant, but
Russia has only assumed the right to build, and stated that it was
ready to finance one-fifth of the necessary funds.
Then, Armenia wanted Russia to build the Iran-Armenia railroad, but
Moscow refused. It also refused from the North-South highway project
and Armenia hopes only for the Asian Development Bank.
Apparently, Russia is guided by the principle of refusing to build
in Armenia. Russia comes and takes everything that has been already
constructed - the laid Armenia-Iran gas pipeline, the communication
sector, the energy sector. Russia has created nothing new in
independent Armenia.
Now Armenia wants Russia to build a radar station for Moscow to make
at least some investments here. Perhaps, Armenia believes that Russia
will not refuse at least from a military-political project.
But, apparently, Moscow won't do it. The refusal from construction
in Armenia is the strategy of Russia, a matter of principle. Perhaps,
this comes from the logic of the Russian elite, which understands that
it would be impossible to keep Armenia under Russian influence for
a long time, and national interests will win there. Russian orbit in
its current capacity, retrograde and philosophy is entirely inadequate
to this interest.
Trend
April 11 2012
Azerbaijan
The editor in chief of the Bulletin of the Caucasus information
and analytical agency, the deputy dean of the History Department
of Moscow State University, a member of the Trend Expert Council,
a political scientist, Alexei Vlasov, specially for Trend.
Will Russia build a radar station in Armenia instead of the radar
station in Gabala, price on which has been increased by Azerbaijan
from $7 million to 300 million?
Moscow has not yet answered to the proposal, announced by Armenian
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan in an interview with Kommersant. The
Armenian and Russian experts comment this proposal currently, and
mostly positive. There is even an opinion that Russia's proposal is
revolutionary in terms of regional security.
In fact, everything is much more conservative. Simply, for many years
Armenian authorities can not achieve Russia to build anything in
Armenia. Armenia sought to build an oil refinery on the border with
Iran during Robert Kocharian's presidency but Russia has refused,
saying that it was an unprofitable project.
Then Armenia wanted Russia to invest in the companies obtained by
the latter as a result of Armenia's external debt, but Russia did
not use these companies and the establishment of free economic zone
on the territory of "Mars" plant is still very doubtful.
Then, Armenia wanted Russia to build a new nuclear power plant, but
Russia has only assumed the right to build, and stated that it was
ready to finance one-fifth of the necessary funds.
Then, Armenia wanted Russia to build the Iran-Armenia railroad, but
Moscow refused. It also refused from the North-South highway project
and Armenia hopes only for the Asian Development Bank.
Apparently, Russia is guided by the principle of refusing to build
in Armenia. Russia comes and takes everything that has been already
constructed - the laid Armenia-Iran gas pipeline, the communication
sector, the energy sector. Russia has created nothing new in
independent Armenia.
Now Armenia wants Russia to build a radar station for Moscow to make
at least some investments here. Perhaps, Armenia believes that Russia
will not refuse at least from a military-political project.
But, apparently, Moscow won't do it. The refusal from construction
in Armenia is the strategy of Russia, a matter of principle. Perhaps,
this comes from the logic of the Russian elite, which understands that
it would be impossible to keep Armenia under Russian influence for
a long time, and national interests will win there. Russian orbit in
its current capacity, retrograde and philosophy is entirely inadequate
to this interest.