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PLANTING MINES ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER
Finishing his service in Armenia, the Russian ex-ambassador Vyacheslav
Kovalenko has plunged into vibrant deliberations on the present and
future of Armenia. He holds interviews with different media.
Altogether, he is trying to depict a negative picture of the European
path of Armenia.
Recently Kovalenko has again dwelled on the issue. He stated that
the Association Agreement which is going to be signed in November
contains a provision on coordinating issues relating to foreign policy
and border defense with the EU.
Armenia and the EU are not publishing the text of the agreement on the
wish of Armenia. So, one can say anything about provisions. However,
the ex-ambassador is raising an interesting issue in an interesting
period of time.
By saying defense of borders he means the borders with Iran and Turkey
which are currently guarded by Russia as the "CIS border". In a recent
incident on the Armenian-Turkish border the Russian border guards
shot dead a trespasser shepherd. Turkey announced that the shepherd
was not armed. The Russian border guards said he fired at them but
did not evidence their allegations with the weapon from which he
allegedly fired. Earlier trespassing shepherds were "something usual"
but they were not shot dead.
After this incident the Russian ex-ambassador is used to launch
the idea that the Association Agreement contains a provision on
coordination of coordinating border defense issues with the European
Union. This is a generalized statement because a customs house is also
a border procedure. The EU and Armenia are also going to sign a DCFTA
which directly relates to customs. So, it would be strange if border
crossing procedures were not mentioned in the Association Agreement.
However, Kovalenko is used to express Moscow's concerns about the
political prospect, fearing that the Association Agreement will bring
up the issue of removal of representatives of the third country from
control or guarding of borders of Armenia. The EU has not stated
anything about it, not even at the level of hints.
It is a sensitive issue because it has serious political consequences
not only for Armenia but also for the region.
In this context, the recent incident at the Armenian-Turkish border
is acquiring an interesting shade. The Armenian foreign minister
reacted reservedly, expressing sorrow about the incident to the
Turkish side and expressing hope that it will not repeat. It was an
uncertain reaction because it was not clear what caused the sorrow,
death or trespassing. Yerevan tried to alleviate tension.
However, it is obvious that a circumstance has come up which may
escalate at any moment. Investigation is underway and it may reveal
that the shepherd was not a shepherd but an Turkish undercover agent,
a commando or a terrorist, a Kurdish one, by the way.
Recently the delegation of the ministry of economy has met with the
foreign minister of the government of Kurdistan in Iraq and discussed
the possibility of setting up a diplomatic representation in Kurdistan.
The Armenian-Kurdish contacts are an interesting and unexpected
development which is one of the reflections of territorial processes.
The Armenian-Turkish border incident could be a stone hurled in this
direction, and certainly there are enough stakeholders both in Ankara
and Moscow. So, the investigation of the border incident could be
"reserved" for the right moment. By the way, for Armenia it is highly
important to reveal the case fast and fully and make sure it will not
serve as a mine planted on the way of Yerevan. If there is a mine,
it must be exploded as soon as possible.
Tension on the Armenian-Turkish border is the guarantee of long stay of
Russian border guards there. In this regard it is not accidental that
the ex-ambassador of Russia brings up the issue of borders immediately
after the incident. In this context the security issues become primary,
especially due to stereotypes rooted in the public circles of Armenia
that only Russia can eliminate risk to Armenia from the Turkish border.
On the other hand, only border security guarantees from Europe can
change the stereotyped approach of the society, and if the EU plans
to consider with Armenia the removal of the third country from the
border, it supposes clear guarantees of security of the society
of Armenia. It is important not only for fighting stereotypes and
shifting the issue from manipulation to pragmatism, but because the
Turkish threat is always an urgent issue for the Armenian state,
and any subject up for partnership with Armenia must come up with
exhaustive proposals to the Armenian society on this and other issues.
Hakob Badalyan 16:28 09/08/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30665
Finishing his service in Armenia, the Russian ex-ambassador Vyacheslav
Kovalenko has plunged into vibrant deliberations on the present and
future of Armenia. He holds interviews with different media.
Altogether, he is trying to depict a negative picture of the European
path of Armenia.
Recently Kovalenko has again dwelled on the issue. He stated that
the Association Agreement which is going to be signed in November
contains a provision on coordinating issues relating to foreign policy
and border defense with the EU.
Armenia and the EU are not publishing the text of the agreement on the
wish of Armenia. So, one can say anything about provisions. However,
the ex-ambassador is raising an interesting issue in an interesting
period of time.
By saying defense of borders he means the borders with Iran and Turkey
which are currently guarded by Russia as the "CIS border". In a recent
incident on the Armenian-Turkish border the Russian border guards
shot dead a trespasser shepherd. Turkey announced that the shepherd
was not armed. The Russian border guards said he fired at them but
did not evidence their allegations with the weapon from which he
allegedly fired. Earlier trespassing shepherds were "something usual"
but they were not shot dead.
After this incident the Russian ex-ambassador is used to launch
the idea that the Association Agreement contains a provision on
coordination of coordinating border defense issues with the European
Union. This is a generalized statement because a customs house is also
a border procedure. The EU and Armenia are also going to sign a DCFTA
which directly relates to customs. So, it would be strange if border
crossing procedures were not mentioned in the Association Agreement.
However, Kovalenko is used to express Moscow's concerns about the
political prospect, fearing that the Association Agreement will bring
up the issue of removal of representatives of the third country from
control or guarding of borders of Armenia. The EU has not stated
anything about it, not even at the level of hints.
It is a sensitive issue because it has serious political consequences
not only for Armenia but also for the region.
In this context, the recent incident at the Armenian-Turkish border
is acquiring an interesting shade. The Armenian foreign minister
reacted reservedly, expressing sorrow about the incident to the
Turkish side and expressing hope that it will not repeat. It was an
uncertain reaction because it was not clear what caused the sorrow,
death or trespassing. Yerevan tried to alleviate tension.
However, it is obvious that a circumstance has come up which may
escalate at any moment. Investigation is underway and it may reveal
that the shepherd was not a shepherd but an Turkish undercover agent,
a commando or a terrorist, a Kurdish one, by the way.
Recently the delegation of the ministry of economy has met with the
foreign minister of the government of Kurdistan in Iraq and discussed
the possibility of setting up a diplomatic representation in Kurdistan.
The Armenian-Kurdish contacts are an interesting and unexpected
development which is one of the reflections of territorial processes.
The Armenian-Turkish border incident could be a stone hurled in this
direction, and certainly there are enough stakeholders both in Ankara
and Moscow. So, the investigation of the border incident could be
"reserved" for the right moment. By the way, for Armenia it is highly
important to reveal the case fast and fully and make sure it will not
serve as a mine planted on the way of Yerevan. If there is a mine,
it must be exploded as soon as possible.
Tension on the Armenian-Turkish border is the guarantee of long stay of
Russian border guards there. In this regard it is not accidental that
the ex-ambassador of Russia brings up the issue of borders immediately
after the incident. In this context the security issues become primary,
especially due to stereotypes rooted in the public circles of Armenia
that only Russia can eliminate risk to Armenia from the Turkish border.
On the other hand, only border security guarantees from Europe can
change the stereotyped approach of the society, and if the EU plans
to consider with Armenia the removal of the third country from the
border, it supposes clear guarantees of security of the society
of Armenia. It is important not only for fighting stereotypes and
shifting the issue from manipulation to pragmatism, but because the
Turkish threat is always an urgent issue for the Armenian state,
and any subject up for partnership with Armenia must come up with
exhaustive proposals to the Armenian society on this and other issues.
Hakob Badalyan 16:28 09/08/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30665