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NEW TEST FOR ARMENIAN SOVEREIGNTY
The Russian Federation must probably think about providing financial
assistance to CIS member states to help them resolve the issue of
foreign passports, said the Russian president during the public press
conference on April 25.
His statement has to do with the forthcoming requirement for the
citizens of CIS member states which are non-Customs Union members
to have a foreign passport to visit Russia. Putin has approved the
proposal which will be effective as of 2015.
Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan are members of the Customs Union. If
the other CIS member states do not join the Customs Union by 2015,
their citizens will not be able to visit Russia without a foreign
passport. The new rules will apply to the citizens of the Republic
of Armenia.
This step is a clear pressure on the CIS member states which are
reluctant to join the Customs Union. In addition, 2015 is a highly
symbolic deadline. Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have set up a working
group for forming the Eurasian Union. This working group must conduct
studies by 2015. This deadline could be understood as the beginning
of establishment of the Eurasian Union. In other words, Russia is
putting double pressure: pressure for the Customs Union "in cash"
and pressure for the Eurasian Union "on credit".
This is a serious issue for the CIS member states, considering
work migration from these countries to Russia. No doubt this will
cause dissatisfaction among citizens of Armenia. And since state and
national dignity is not very strong in the Armenian society, there is
high probability that this dissatisfaction will result into a public
demand for membership to the Customs Union or Eurasian Union without
the assistance of political stakeholders.
There is one more concern in a long-term perspective. Even if the
Armenian government succeeds to change the possible public attitude
and not join the Customs Union not to have the loss of sovereignty
sealed finally, Russia may resort to causing trouble to migrant workers
in its country. There are different levers for that fragmental use
of which we have witnessed for many times, ranging from violence to
administrative levers.
Consequently, the question requires a fundamental solution. However,
since most citizens of Armenia are deprived of dignified life and
work in Armenia, it will be hard to get a solution.
Instead of expecting financial assistance from Russia to print foreign
passports one had better request Russian passports without wasting
any time.
James Hakobyan 17:22 25/04/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/politics/view/29725
The Russian Federation must probably think about providing financial
assistance to CIS member states to help them resolve the issue of
foreign passports, said the Russian president during the public press
conference on April 25.
His statement has to do with the forthcoming requirement for the
citizens of CIS member states which are non-Customs Union members
to have a foreign passport to visit Russia. Putin has approved the
proposal which will be effective as of 2015.
Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan are members of the Customs Union. If
the other CIS member states do not join the Customs Union by 2015,
their citizens will not be able to visit Russia without a foreign
passport. The new rules will apply to the citizens of the Republic
of Armenia.
This step is a clear pressure on the CIS member states which are
reluctant to join the Customs Union. In addition, 2015 is a highly
symbolic deadline. Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have set up a working
group for forming the Eurasian Union. This working group must conduct
studies by 2015. This deadline could be understood as the beginning
of establishment of the Eurasian Union. In other words, Russia is
putting double pressure: pressure for the Customs Union "in cash"
and pressure for the Eurasian Union "on credit".
This is a serious issue for the CIS member states, considering
work migration from these countries to Russia. No doubt this will
cause dissatisfaction among citizens of Armenia. And since state and
national dignity is not very strong in the Armenian society, there is
high probability that this dissatisfaction will result into a public
demand for membership to the Customs Union or Eurasian Union without
the assistance of political stakeholders.
There is one more concern in a long-term perspective. Even if the
Armenian government succeeds to change the possible public attitude
and not join the Customs Union not to have the loss of sovereignty
sealed finally, Russia may resort to causing trouble to migrant workers
in its country. There are different levers for that fragmental use
of which we have witnessed for many times, ranging from violence to
administrative levers.
Consequently, the question requires a fundamental solution. However,
since most citizens of Armenia are deprived of dignified life and
work in Armenia, it will be hard to get a solution.
Instead of expecting financial assistance from Russia to print foreign
passports one had better request Russian passports without wasting
any time.
James Hakobyan 17:22 25/04/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/politics/view/29725