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WE HAVE SEEN WHAT RUSSIA OFFERS
The deputy foreign minister Shavarsh Kocharyan said in an interview
with a European website that Armenia chooses partnership with CSTO
for security and DCFTA for trade with Europe. In addition, Armenia
is not going to be a member of NATO, the EU or the Eurasian Union.
In order to cooperate with any of the existing blocs, at least economic
ones, Armenia needs to restore its sovereignty. Otherwise cooperation
will not be voluntary and mutually beneficial but compulsory, as we
can see now. Sometimes the impression is that Armenia is not making a
choice but goes with the stream of geopolitical changes in the region
and the world.
Without sovereignty it would be that way. Now Armenia may benefit
from geopolitical changes in the region. Most importantly, however,
these changes give us a chance to restore our sovereignty and for
the time being the chance is not used at all.
Armenia needs a complex of important decisions to achieve sovereignty.
They will relate to energy, borders, economy. Armenia has gaps
in all these areas, and it relies heavily on Russia. In order to
restore sovereignty Armenia must refuse the border services of Russia,
nationalize strategic assets handled by Russia and opt for alternative
sources of energy.
European officials calling Armenia for signing the Association
Agreement with the EU promise rise in the quality of life and other
advantages. However, Europe has not offered anything concrete so far
or the Armenian side does not publish the relevant information. In
any case, it is now known what Europe offers us in three important
directions: borders, energy and economy.
The new ambassador of the United States to Ukraine Jeoffrey Payette
stated that the United States will do everything they can to help
Ukraine end its energy dependence on Russia. According to the new U.S.
ambassador, Exxon Mobil and Chevron are highly interested in the
Ukrainian market. There are no such offers to Armenia yet.
For the time being the offers of the West to Armenia have been limited
to a donor conference and certain economic benefits from access to
the European market.
So far Armenia was facing Europe and trying to escape the Russian
zone of influence without public discussions and public consensus
even inside the ruling party. Similarly, the Association Agreement
may be signed with the EU without taking into consideration the public
opinion. However, at some point the uncertain public opinion may have
a dramatic role, and Europe needs to be maximum sincere with Armenia.
We have already seen and know what Russia offers. What will Europe
bring to us? Will it help restore our sovereignty or will one
dependence be replaced with another?
Naira Hayrumyan 12:15 13/08/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30686
The deputy foreign minister Shavarsh Kocharyan said in an interview
with a European website that Armenia chooses partnership with CSTO
for security and DCFTA for trade with Europe. In addition, Armenia
is not going to be a member of NATO, the EU or the Eurasian Union.
In order to cooperate with any of the existing blocs, at least economic
ones, Armenia needs to restore its sovereignty. Otherwise cooperation
will not be voluntary and mutually beneficial but compulsory, as we
can see now. Sometimes the impression is that Armenia is not making a
choice but goes with the stream of geopolitical changes in the region
and the world.
Without sovereignty it would be that way. Now Armenia may benefit
from geopolitical changes in the region. Most importantly, however,
these changes give us a chance to restore our sovereignty and for
the time being the chance is not used at all.
Armenia needs a complex of important decisions to achieve sovereignty.
They will relate to energy, borders, economy. Armenia has gaps
in all these areas, and it relies heavily on Russia. In order to
restore sovereignty Armenia must refuse the border services of Russia,
nationalize strategic assets handled by Russia and opt for alternative
sources of energy.
European officials calling Armenia for signing the Association
Agreement with the EU promise rise in the quality of life and other
advantages. However, Europe has not offered anything concrete so far
or the Armenian side does not publish the relevant information. In
any case, it is now known what Europe offers us in three important
directions: borders, energy and economy.
The new ambassador of the United States to Ukraine Jeoffrey Payette
stated that the United States will do everything they can to help
Ukraine end its energy dependence on Russia. According to the new U.S.
ambassador, Exxon Mobil and Chevron are highly interested in the
Ukrainian market. There are no such offers to Armenia yet.
For the time being the offers of the West to Armenia have been limited
to a donor conference and certain economic benefits from access to
the European market.
So far Armenia was facing Europe and trying to escape the Russian
zone of influence without public discussions and public consensus
even inside the ruling party. Similarly, the Association Agreement
may be signed with the EU without taking into consideration the public
opinion. However, at some point the uncertain public opinion may have
a dramatic role, and Europe needs to be maximum sincere with Armenia.
We have already seen and know what Russia offers. What will Europe
bring to us? Will it help restore our sovereignty or will one
dependence be replaced with another?
Naira Hayrumyan 12:15 13/08/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30686