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How Many `Husbands' Armenia Has
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/politics27151.html
Published: 12:00:19 - 22/08/2012
The Public Television of Armenia denies the ongoing race between the
West and Russia for influence on Armenia and claims that official
Yerevan should not necessarily have only one `husband'. Opinions are
heard that Armenia is not forced to choose a way and it may maintain
good relations both with Russia and the U.S. and Europe.
This is quite possible in two cases. First, if Armenia builds up very
strong sovereign positions to be able to dictate diplomatic conditions
and second, if the power centers lose interest in Armenia leaving the
choice up to them.
There is no second condition. Russia, the U.S. and Europe are not
hiding their interest in increasing influence on Armenia. In addition,
they even resort to blackmail and demands `not to be friends with
anyone else'. In such a situation, it is really difficult for Armenia
to avoid a choice.
Yesterday, Regnum agency released an article accusing Armenia of being
a transit country for Iran to break the U.S. blockade and transfer
money to Europe. The article was written in a very tough way which
means that the U.S. is dissatisfied with Armenia.
Perhaps, the U.S. wants to warn Serzh Sargsyan not to leave for Tehran
for Non-Aligned Movement Summit to be held on August 26-31. Iran's
president Ahmadinejad invited Serzh Sargsyan to the summit, and the
office of the Armenian president has not made any statements regarding
whether or not Sargsyan will attend it.
The U.S. considers the Non-Aligned Movement almost an anti-American
organization. It is composed of over 120 countries including North
Korea. The U.S. will hardly be happy to see Serzh Sargsyan there too.
For its part, Russia is also jealous about the foreign policy
preferences of Armenia, pulling it hard into the Eurasian Union.
Armenia has started an active campaign to convince people of the
advantages of the Eurasian Union. However, because of the lack of real
arguments, only blackmail and intimidation are used as such.
So, not local experts push Armenia to make the difficult choice, as
the Pubic TV affirms, but the great powers. Armenia has so far been
able to maneuver. Moreover, during Serzh Sargsyan's visit to Moscow no
word was uttered on the Eurasian Union. Will he be able to stay
neutral if during his visit to Yerevan Vladimir Putin poses the
question directly?
In order not to face the fact, Armenia needs to formulate its foreign
political perspectives which need to be based on the national
interest. World powers will find it hard to object to the national
interest and the only argument may be violence. Meanwhile the lack of
clearly set priorities makes others set them.
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/politics27151.html
Published: 12:00:19 - 22/08/2012
The Public Television of Armenia denies the ongoing race between the
West and Russia for influence on Armenia and claims that official
Yerevan should not necessarily have only one `husband'. Opinions are
heard that Armenia is not forced to choose a way and it may maintain
good relations both with Russia and the U.S. and Europe.
This is quite possible in two cases. First, if Armenia builds up very
strong sovereign positions to be able to dictate diplomatic conditions
and second, if the power centers lose interest in Armenia leaving the
choice up to them.
There is no second condition. Russia, the U.S. and Europe are not
hiding their interest in increasing influence on Armenia. In addition,
they even resort to blackmail and demands `not to be friends with
anyone else'. In such a situation, it is really difficult for Armenia
to avoid a choice.
Yesterday, Regnum agency released an article accusing Armenia of being
a transit country for Iran to break the U.S. blockade and transfer
money to Europe. The article was written in a very tough way which
means that the U.S. is dissatisfied with Armenia.
Perhaps, the U.S. wants to warn Serzh Sargsyan not to leave for Tehran
for Non-Aligned Movement Summit to be held on August 26-31. Iran's
president Ahmadinejad invited Serzh Sargsyan to the summit, and the
office of the Armenian president has not made any statements regarding
whether or not Sargsyan will attend it.
The U.S. considers the Non-Aligned Movement almost an anti-American
organization. It is composed of over 120 countries including North
Korea. The U.S. will hardly be happy to see Serzh Sargsyan there too.
For its part, Russia is also jealous about the foreign policy
preferences of Armenia, pulling it hard into the Eurasian Union.
Armenia has started an active campaign to convince people of the
advantages of the Eurasian Union. However, because of the lack of real
arguments, only blackmail and intimidation are used as such.
So, not local experts push Armenia to make the difficult choice, as
the Pubic TV affirms, but the great powers. Armenia has so far been
able to maneuver. Moreover, during Serzh Sargsyan's visit to Moscow no
word was uttered on the Eurasian Union. Will he be able to stay
neutral if during his visit to Yerevan Vladimir Putin poses the
question directly?
In order not to face the fact, Armenia needs to formulate its foreign
political perspectives which need to be based on the national
interest. World powers will find it hard to object to the national
interest and the only argument may be violence. Meanwhile the lack of
clearly set priorities makes others set them.