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THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION TREATS THE IDEA OF THE EURASIAN UNION SERIOUSLY
April 3 2013
According to Uwe Halbach, an expert of the German Institute for
International and Security Affairs, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is
"frozen." * Mr. Halbach, Serzh Sargsyan's second term will officially
start on April 9. His tenure that started in 2008 was marked by
"football diplomacy," which was a fruitless process. Now, in your
opinion, what can Armenia interest the international community in,
what expectations can there be from Armenia? * It is hard for me
to say that something can radically change in this issue, but I can
assume that the diplomatic process with Turkey will still continue
to be on the agenda. Let me remind that President Gul congratulated
Serzh Sargsyan on his reelection, and as a result of that there
were discussions again on whether the process of normalizing the
Armenia-Turkey relations will be revived. I don't know, I think it
is possible that this process will be revived one day, and I am sure
that the international community will support it. It is hard for me
to predict whether Serzh Sargsyan will change his political line,
furthermore, I can't see any new emphases at all. * Talking about
joining the Eurasian Union and the Customs Union recently, Serzh
Sargsyan advised not to believe those who say that Russia forced
Armenia to become a member of the Customs Union. "The members of
the Customs Union don't wish to involve anyone just yet; at least,
they don't have such a desire, as far as we are concerned. ...We don't
solve an issue of the white and the black. We don't solve an either/or
issue. We are honest in our aspirations, and our aspirations are in
our people's interests, we want our country to develop and to use the
assistance of the Customs Union, as well as the Eurasian Union and
the European Union, in that process." Nonetheless, if Armenia faces
that choice one day, how will it be perceived by the international
community? * Certainly, the subject of the Eurasian Union is often too
politicized, but I think that Russia treats that idea seriously and
wishes new states, including Armenia, to become members of the union.
It is obvious that the issue of Armenia's membership is not cleared
up yet; Armenia still maneuvers too. It is natural that there are
countries like Ukraine, which are more important at this stage. It is
obvious in the issue of Ukraine's membership that there is geopolitical
rivalry in terms of Russia's prospects. However, I must state that
Putin's idea of the Eurasian Union is a really serious issue, and one
should treat it rather seriously. * Mr. Halbach, what will you say
about the prospects of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement? The
negotiations in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group haven't yielded
tangible results, moreover, it seems that new problems stalemate
the negotiating process: the extradition of Azeri murderer Ramil
Safarov and his heroization in Azerbaijan recently; now the issue
of the Stepanakert airport has become a topical subject.... * There
are two issues in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement: it is
the fact of running around in circles, and the other factor is to
really understand and realize that the settlement of this conflict
should be a topical issue, since, as you have mentioned, for example
the Safarov case testifies to the fact that this conflict has deep
psychological consequences, and there is real danger of escalation
in hostilities. I can't say that external forces are interested
in the settlement of this conflict, moreover, they seem to be in
a rather useless condition, and there really is a stalemate. The
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a "frozen" conflict, and it is necessary
to treat it quite seriously. EMMA GABRIELYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/04/03/153394/
© 1998 - 2013 Aravot - News from Armenia
April 3 2013
According to Uwe Halbach, an expert of the German Institute for
International and Security Affairs, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is
"frozen." * Mr. Halbach, Serzh Sargsyan's second term will officially
start on April 9. His tenure that started in 2008 was marked by
"football diplomacy," which was a fruitless process. Now, in your
opinion, what can Armenia interest the international community in,
what expectations can there be from Armenia? * It is hard for me
to say that something can radically change in this issue, but I can
assume that the diplomatic process with Turkey will still continue
to be on the agenda. Let me remind that President Gul congratulated
Serzh Sargsyan on his reelection, and as a result of that there
were discussions again on whether the process of normalizing the
Armenia-Turkey relations will be revived. I don't know, I think it
is possible that this process will be revived one day, and I am sure
that the international community will support it. It is hard for me
to predict whether Serzh Sargsyan will change his political line,
furthermore, I can't see any new emphases at all. * Talking about
joining the Eurasian Union and the Customs Union recently, Serzh
Sargsyan advised not to believe those who say that Russia forced
Armenia to become a member of the Customs Union. "The members of
the Customs Union don't wish to involve anyone just yet; at least,
they don't have such a desire, as far as we are concerned. ...We don't
solve an issue of the white and the black. We don't solve an either/or
issue. We are honest in our aspirations, and our aspirations are in
our people's interests, we want our country to develop and to use the
assistance of the Customs Union, as well as the Eurasian Union and
the European Union, in that process." Nonetheless, if Armenia faces
that choice one day, how will it be perceived by the international
community? * Certainly, the subject of the Eurasian Union is often too
politicized, but I think that Russia treats that idea seriously and
wishes new states, including Armenia, to become members of the union.
It is obvious that the issue of Armenia's membership is not cleared
up yet; Armenia still maneuvers too. It is natural that there are
countries like Ukraine, which are more important at this stage. It is
obvious in the issue of Ukraine's membership that there is geopolitical
rivalry in terms of Russia's prospects. However, I must state that
Putin's idea of the Eurasian Union is a really serious issue, and one
should treat it rather seriously. * Mr. Halbach, what will you say
about the prospects of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement? The
negotiations in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group haven't yielded
tangible results, moreover, it seems that new problems stalemate
the negotiating process: the extradition of Azeri murderer Ramil
Safarov and his heroization in Azerbaijan recently; now the issue
of the Stepanakert airport has become a topical subject.... * There
are two issues in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement: it is
the fact of running around in circles, and the other factor is to
really understand and realize that the settlement of this conflict
should be a topical issue, since, as you have mentioned, for example
the Safarov case testifies to the fact that this conflict has deep
psychological consequences, and there is real danger of escalation
in hostilities. I can't say that external forces are interested
in the settlement of this conflict, moreover, they seem to be in
a rather useless condition, and there really is a stalemate. The
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a "frozen" conflict, and it is necessary
to treat it quite seriously. EMMA GABRIELYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/04/03/153394/
© 1998 - 2013 Aravot - News from Armenia