WILL PUTIN COME TO YEREVAN FROM BAKU?
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments27622.html
Published: 12:43:35 - 05/10/2012
Why didn't Putin come to Armenia? Perhaps, he will come from Baku,
where he is going on October 17. Or maybe, he "postponed" Armenia,
as a "hard case".
Tomorrow Putin is leaving for Tajikistan, where he is going to solve
issues relating to the base and foreign political orientation of this
country. In September, Putin visited Moldova and Kirgizia, where he
solved all the issues and ensured these countries are loyal to the
pro-Russian political course. Putin does not doubt the loyalty of
Kazakhstan and Belarus, so Armenia and Ukraine are left.
Putin's visit to Armenia was announced by Konstantin Zatulin in
June: he "extended hope" that Putin will attend the CSTO exercises
in Yerevan. Expectations were not met. Zatulin never explained the
reasons.
Either Putin hopes to settle issues with Armenia easily like with
the other states, or he thinks there is no problem with Armenia -
the recent events prove it.
The Armenian parliament has easily ratified the CSTO Protocol on
banning the deployment of "foreign" military bases in Armenia, and
the prime minister confirmed in Yalta that Armenia is interested
in the integration into CIS. True, Tigran Sargsyan thinks the CIS
countries should set a joint goal and find a way to achieve it. But
in terms of security, he confirmed that the "supranational structures
are more effective, for example the CSTO".
Besides, Putin sees that Armenia, besides the declaration, does not
undertake concrete steps that lead it to the integration into Europe.
Declarative reforms are on the paper, the signing of the Association
agreement is postponed, Armenia does not show wish to go towards the
West. Europe is skeptical too: statements on the lack of political
will in Armenia are issued, the conference of donors was delayed,
in short, Putin has nothing to worry about.
Why does Putin even need to arrive in Armenia? The term of the
deployment of the Russian military base in Armenia has already been
prolonged by 49 years, Armenia's borders are protected by the Russian
frontier troops, Russia has all the infrastructures just like the
subsoil. Only, after his meeting with Erdogan and Aliyev in Baku,
Putin may need to come to Armenia and force the power to hand over
a couple of regions in Karabakh. "In exchange" he is possible to
convince Aliyev to let open the Stepanakert airport. We should
not doubt that the Armenian parliament will vote in favor of such a
proposal, like it did in case of the CSTO. Prosperous Armenia, Armenian
National Congress, Heritage and ARFD will boycott the session and the
parliamentary majority will vote in favor. Perhaps, Nikol Pashinyan,
Artsvik Minasyan and Alik Arzumanyan will deliver ardent speeches. And
only Edmon Marukyan may spit on everything and reject such a mandate.
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments27622.html
Published: 12:43:35 - 05/10/2012
Why didn't Putin come to Armenia? Perhaps, he will come from Baku,
where he is going on October 17. Or maybe, he "postponed" Armenia,
as a "hard case".
Tomorrow Putin is leaving for Tajikistan, where he is going to solve
issues relating to the base and foreign political orientation of this
country. In September, Putin visited Moldova and Kirgizia, where he
solved all the issues and ensured these countries are loyal to the
pro-Russian political course. Putin does not doubt the loyalty of
Kazakhstan and Belarus, so Armenia and Ukraine are left.
Putin's visit to Armenia was announced by Konstantin Zatulin in
June: he "extended hope" that Putin will attend the CSTO exercises
in Yerevan. Expectations were not met. Zatulin never explained the
reasons.
Either Putin hopes to settle issues with Armenia easily like with
the other states, or he thinks there is no problem with Armenia -
the recent events prove it.
The Armenian parliament has easily ratified the CSTO Protocol on
banning the deployment of "foreign" military bases in Armenia, and
the prime minister confirmed in Yalta that Armenia is interested
in the integration into CIS. True, Tigran Sargsyan thinks the CIS
countries should set a joint goal and find a way to achieve it. But
in terms of security, he confirmed that the "supranational structures
are more effective, for example the CSTO".
Besides, Putin sees that Armenia, besides the declaration, does not
undertake concrete steps that lead it to the integration into Europe.
Declarative reforms are on the paper, the signing of the Association
agreement is postponed, Armenia does not show wish to go towards the
West. Europe is skeptical too: statements on the lack of political
will in Armenia are issued, the conference of donors was delayed,
in short, Putin has nothing to worry about.
Why does Putin even need to arrive in Armenia? The term of the
deployment of the Russian military base in Armenia has already been
prolonged by 49 years, Armenia's borders are protected by the Russian
frontier troops, Russia has all the infrastructures just like the
subsoil. Only, after his meeting with Erdogan and Aliyev in Baku,
Putin may need to come to Armenia and force the power to hand over
a couple of regions in Karabakh. "In exchange" he is possible to
convince Aliyev to let open the Stepanakert airport. We should
not doubt that the Armenian parliament will vote in favor of such a
proposal, like it did in case of the CSTO. Prosperous Armenia, Armenian
National Congress, Heritage and ARFD will boycott the session and the
parliamentary majority will vote in favor. Perhaps, Nikol Pashinyan,
Artsvik Minasyan and Alik Arzumanyan will deliver ardent speeches. And
only Edmon Marukyan may spit on everything and reject such a mandate.