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PUTIN'S VISIT TO AZERBAIJAN WAS'NT THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
August 15 2013
Will Armenia thereafter be able to build the relationship with Russia,
with the principle of peer to peer It's hard to definitely assess as
to how the President of Russia Vladimir Putin's visit to Azerbaijan
supported the Azeri-Russian rapprochement. Judging by the modest and
restrained reaction of the Russian Press, it can be concluded that it
would be an exaggeration to consider Putin's visit to Azerbaijan the
most successful. It is known that a number of documents were signed,
including those related to the field of energy and transport, as well
as issues on legal regime of the Caspian Sea and the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict were discussed. Russia and Azerbaijan have adopted the
humanitarian cooperation program until 2015, which was signed by the
foreign ministers of the two countries, and achieved an agreement to
build a bridge on the border across the Samur river linking the two
countries. The agreement on terms of the supply of oil signed between
"Rosneft" and Azerbaijani SOCAR can be considered remarkable. This
means that Azerbaijan continues to be viewed as an influential country
for RF towards strengthening energy and economic cooperation. But
on the background of impressive composition of Russian delegation
and expectations available in advance, of course, the visit became a
kind of protocol. Of course, the Azerbaijani authorities can use this
visit as an important factor prior to presidential elections in the
sense of take Azerbaijan into account. There are opinions that Putin's
visit was aimed at imposing "psychological pressure" to Armenia. This
factor is also possible, but it is the only 'pressure' from the Russian
side. There have already been "psychological pressures" from Moscow by
selling Russian offensive weapons to Azerbaijan, which, as it turned
out yesterday, reaches not three, but four billion dollars. Putin's
visit in Russian-Azerbaijani relations was a regular rise after
some freezing.
But given visit probably should be considered in terms of regional
processes. Armenia and Georgia are expected to sign EU Association
Agreement on November, and no matter how opinions sound that Moscow
does not like it, and it is natural that it will not like, nevertheless
Moscow resources to resist it are limited. Yes, the experts of Russian
influence will still have topic for inviting press conferences for
two to three months, and will still continue to save Armenia from the
"claws" of Europe, but everyone, even the Russians understand that
counteracting the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU
on that level is simply absurd. Armenia's authorities still continue
to insist the necessity to sign the Association Agreement, at least
in public speeches, which is a positive fact.
Recently, in a conversation with correspondent of commonspace.eu
Joseph Urso, RA Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan speaking
about the choice between the EU Association Agreement and Deep
and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement and the Customs Union,
observed that "Customs Union puts obstacle to the signing of the
Association Agreement". At the same time he stressed that the RF is in
the security system of Armenia, when the Association agreement is in
the economic system. "This does not contradict one another. In terms
of security, Armenia is connection with Russia. We are a member of
Collective Security Treaty Organization led by Russia. But we are
actively working with NATO. From CSTO members, only Armenia in the
composition of NATO has sent its peacekeeping forces to different parts
of the world. But we have never said that we would like to become
a member of NATO. We are a member of the CSTO." In other words, the
psychological pressure, being clear to some extent, anyway, can not
have the impact and the result that presumably would be desirable for
the Russian side. Armenia is still considered to be Russia's "strategic
ally", Russian military bases are placed in the territory of Armenia,
and, in the last few months, the Russian side can not ignore certain
moods formed with the society towards Moscow policy. In other words,
even impulses to go to sharp confrontation with Armenia are also
limited. The whole question is whether Armenia from now on will be
able to build relations with Russia, with the principle of peer to
peer ... Perhaps Moscow feels this threat, and all the "psychological
pressure" are aimed at prevention of the said intention.
Emma GABRIELYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/08/15/156034/
August 15 2013
Will Armenia thereafter be able to build the relationship with Russia,
with the principle of peer to peer It's hard to definitely assess as
to how the President of Russia Vladimir Putin's visit to Azerbaijan
supported the Azeri-Russian rapprochement. Judging by the modest and
restrained reaction of the Russian Press, it can be concluded that it
would be an exaggeration to consider Putin's visit to Azerbaijan the
most successful. It is known that a number of documents were signed,
including those related to the field of energy and transport, as well
as issues on legal regime of the Caspian Sea and the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict were discussed. Russia and Azerbaijan have adopted the
humanitarian cooperation program until 2015, which was signed by the
foreign ministers of the two countries, and achieved an agreement to
build a bridge on the border across the Samur river linking the two
countries. The agreement on terms of the supply of oil signed between
"Rosneft" and Azerbaijani SOCAR can be considered remarkable. This
means that Azerbaijan continues to be viewed as an influential country
for RF towards strengthening energy and economic cooperation. But
on the background of impressive composition of Russian delegation
and expectations available in advance, of course, the visit became a
kind of protocol. Of course, the Azerbaijani authorities can use this
visit as an important factor prior to presidential elections in the
sense of take Azerbaijan into account. There are opinions that Putin's
visit was aimed at imposing "psychological pressure" to Armenia. This
factor is also possible, but it is the only 'pressure' from the Russian
side. There have already been "psychological pressures" from Moscow by
selling Russian offensive weapons to Azerbaijan, which, as it turned
out yesterday, reaches not three, but four billion dollars. Putin's
visit in Russian-Azerbaijani relations was a regular rise after
some freezing.
But given visit probably should be considered in terms of regional
processes. Armenia and Georgia are expected to sign EU Association
Agreement on November, and no matter how opinions sound that Moscow
does not like it, and it is natural that it will not like, nevertheless
Moscow resources to resist it are limited. Yes, the experts of Russian
influence will still have topic for inviting press conferences for
two to three months, and will still continue to save Armenia from the
"claws" of Europe, but everyone, even the Russians understand that
counteracting the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU
on that level is simply absurd. Armenia's authorities still continue
to insist the necessity to sign the Association Agreement, at least
in public speeches, which is a positive fact.
Recently, in a conversation with correspondent of commonspace.eu
Joseph Urso, RA Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan speaking
about the choice between the EU Association Agreement and Deep
and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement and the Customs Union,
observed that "Customs Union puts obstacle to the signing of the
Association Agreement". At the same time he stressed that the RF is in
the security system of Armenia, when the Association agreement is in
the economic system. "This does not contradict one another. In terms
of security, Armenia is connection with Russia. We are a member of
Collective Security Treaty Organization led by Russia. But we are
actively working with NATO. From CSTO members, only Armenia in the
composition of NATO has sent its peacekeeping forces to different parts
of the world. But we have never said that we would like to become
a member of NATO. We are a member of the CSTO." In other words, the
psychological pressure, being clear to some extent, anyway, can not
have the impact and the result that presumably would be desirable for
the Russian side. Armenia is still considered to be Russia's "strategic
ally", Russian military bases are placed in the territory of Armenia,
and, in the last few months, the Russian side can not ignore certain
moods formed with the society towards Moscow policy. In other words,
even impulses to go to sharp confrontation with Armenia are also
limited. The whole question is whether Armenia from now on will be
able to build relations with Russia, with the principle of peer to
peer ... Perhaps Moscow feels this threat, and all the "psychological
pressure" are aimed at prevention of the said intention.
Emma GABRIELYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/08/15/156034/