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COURTING VLAD: PM'S APPARENT REVERSAL OF IDEOLOGY SEEN AS SOLICITING MOSCOW'S FAVOR AHEAD OF 2013 VOTE
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
Politics | 29.11.12 | 13:51
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan's two separate interviews given on
November 26 to Russian Izvestia periodical and Interfax news agency
have raised a number of questions and speculations among political
circles, where they are viewed as pre-election solicitation of Russian
President Vladimir Putin's support.
The most remarkable part is the timing of the interviews. The more
persistent speculations grow over whether Sargsyan might be dismissed,
the more actively the executive leader advocates cooperation with
Russia and Russia-initiated projects, in particular the Customs and
Eurasian Unions.
The interview with Intetrfax is noteworthy for the part where Sargsyan
speaks about the strategic partnership between Armenia and Russia,
stressing that they are not based on who can gain what.
"Strategic partnership relations imply that it is not a relationship
based on benefit, but one based on a concept of shared values, such
as our common past and our shared vision for a common future. If
strategic partnership relations are based only on benefits they
can hardly be called strategic. It is obvious that Armenia-Russia
relations are not built only on gains."
This was said only a month after the article in Odnako magazine by
Putin's non-official spokesman Mikhail Leontyev, where he wrote that
"If not for Russia Armenia would most probably not even be on the
map" and that "Armenia enjoys today's status solely due to Russia
and is able to survive again solely due to Russia," and is in "total
dependence" on the Big Brother.
Moreover, this time Sargsyan went even further.
When speaking about the Customs and Eurasian Unions and despite his
earlier interviews to other Russian publications where he said it would
be "pointless" for Armenia to join the Customs Union for the lack of
common border, the premier this time not only said that a working group
has been created and assigned to develop mechanisms for joining it,
but also plunged into praise for the chance for a common currency.
"I believe that the Customs Union by nature is rather close to a
common currency zone. It would take only five consecutive years of
reconciled budget and loan and fiscal policy," he said.
"Common currency is beneficial both for economic entities and
citizens... What's the point of having national currency and lose
money in remittances," the head of the Armenian government said,
not specifying however, whether Armenia might take that course one day.
Former Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan, currently an oppositional
Armenian National Congress MP, calls this part of Sargsyan's interview
an act of "obvious servility to Putin and Russia".
"The prime minister is well aware that common currency in this case
implies Russian rubles. It has been talked about since 1993, but it
is not in Armenia's interest, so talking about it today is an obvious
attempt of adulation to once again demonstrate Russia's dominance
and our readiness to abide," says Bagratyan.
The analysis of Sargsyan's responses to other question in the interview
has led many to a conclusion that the whole affair was meant to
get Russia's political support prior to the February presidential
elections.
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/41524/tigran_sargsyan_vladimir_putin_eurasion_union_cuts oms_union
From: A. Papazian
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
Politics | 29.11.12 | 13:51
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan's two separate interviews given on
November 26 to Russian Izvestia periodical and Interfax news agency
have raised a number of questions and speculations among political
circles, where they are viewed as pre-election solicitation of Russian
President Vladimir Putin's support.
The most remarkable part is the timing of the interviews. The more
persistent speculations grow over whether Sargsyan might be dismissed,
the more actively the executive leader advocates cooperation with
Russia and Russia-initiated projects, in particular the Customs and
Eurasian Unions.
The interview with Intetrfax is noteworthy for the part where Sargsyan
speaks about the strategic partnership between Armenia and Russia,
stressing that they are not based on who can gain what.
"Strategic partnership relations imply that it is not a relationship
based on benefit, but one based on a concept of shared values, such
as our common past and our shared vision for a common future. If
strategic partnership relations are based only on benefits they
can hardly be called strategic. It is obvious that Armenia-Russia
relations are not built only on gains."
This was said only a month after the article in Odnako magazine by
Putin's non-official spokesman Mikhail Leontyev, where he wrote that
"If not for Russia Armenia would most probably not even be on the
map" and that "Armenia enjoys today's status solely due to Russia
and is able to survive again solely due to Russia," and is in "total
dependence" on the Big Brother.
Moreover, this time Sargsyan went even further.
When speaking about the Customs and Eurasian Unions and despite his
earlier interviews to other Russian publications where he said it would
be "pointless" for Armenia to join the Customs Union for the lack of
common border, the premier this time not only said that a working group
has been created and assigned to develop mechanisms for joining it,
but also plunged into praise for the chance for a common currency.
"I believe that the Customs Union by nature is rather close to a
common currency zone. It would take only five consecutive years of
reconciled budget and loan and fiscal policy," he said.
"Common currency is beneficial both for economic entities and
citizens... What's the point of having national currency and lose
money in remittances," the head of the Armenian government said,
not specifying however, whether Armenia might take that course one day.
Former Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan, currently an oppositional
Armenian National Congress MP, calls this part of Sargsyan's interview
an act of "obvious servility to Putin and Russia".
"The prime minister is well aware that common currency in this case
implies Russian rubles. It has been talked about since 1993, but it
is not in Armenia's interest, so talking about it today is an obvious
attempt of adulation to once again demonstrate Russia's dominance
and our readiness to abide," says Bagratyan.
The analysis of Sargsyan's responses to other question in the interview
has led many to a conclusion that the whole affair was meant to
get Russia's political support prior to the February presidential
elections.
http://armenianow.com/news/politics/41524/tigran_sargsyan_vladimir_putin_eurasion_union_cuts oms_union
From: A. Papazian