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ANSWER TO SHOYGU AND BORDUZHA
HAKOB BADALYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28758
20:48 30/01/2013
Following the blitz visit of the Russian defense minister Shoygu,
as well as the visit of CSTO Secretary General Borduzha and the
memorandum on the establishment of CSTO Academy in Armenia the U.S.
Ambassador Heffern and USAID mission director Karen Hilliard visited
Tigran Sargsyan today.
Karen Hilliard made an interesting statement during that meeting.
According to the press release of the government, Ms. Hilliard stated
that the U.S. government wishes to sign a new agreement on assistance
to democratic and governance programs which will be unique in Europe
and Eurasia. Hence the United States will be a precedent for the
countries of the region because no such program has been implemented
together with other countries.
Tigran Sargsyan said Armenia is committed to deeper cooperation. The
agreement will be signed by March 31.
Most probably, after the visit of Shoygu and Borduzha questions have
occurred in Washington therefore the ambassador and Karen Hilliard
visited the government with specific proposals. Perhaps Ambassador
Heffern has made sure that the American visit last December and
meeting with Vice President Biden are still valid.
It is possible that the guests are sure that everything is valid but
tried to find out whether official Yerevan has given up the declared
goal of economic and political diversification.
The West, namely Washington, has mentioned not only in backstage
talks but also in public statements that no step is expected from
Armenia which will harm Armenia's relation with Russia. Ambassador
John Heffern has recently stated in the U.S. Congress that Washington
understands the diverse and long history of the relationship between
Armenia and Russia.
Over years the web of the Armenian-Russian relation has got so
mingled that rejecting it would endanger Armenia and is practically
impossible. The problem is to establish a system along with relations
and to form an economic and political alternative, in other words,
good and cooperative relation not only with Russia but also with the
West, in this case Washington.
The formation of the alternative or parallel economic and political
platform will allow discussing the Armenian-Russian relationship from
a more sovereign aspect and transform it from a web to effective
partnership. The West is trying to resolve the strategic issue
of formation of this parallel reality. The dynamics and scope of
this process, as well as the partners is another issue. Obviously,
the most effective and objective partner is the government, and the
choice is already made inside the government.
This is not the best option, of course, but it is the least of all
troubles unless there is a new conceptual and systemic platform.
HAKOB BADALYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28758
20:48 30/01/2013
Following the blitz visit of the Russian defense minister Shoygu,
as well as the visit of CSTO Secretary General Borduzha and the
memorandum on the establishment of CSTO Academy in Armenia the U.S.
Ambassador Heffern and USAID mission director Karen Hilliard visited
Tigran Sargsyan today.
Karen Hilliard made an interesting statement during that meeting.
According to the press release of the government, Ms. Hilliard stated
that the U.S. government wishes to sign a new agreement on assistance
to democratic and governance programs which will be unique in Europe
and Eurasia. Hence the United States will be a precedent for the
countries of the region because no such program has been implemented
together with other countries.
Tigran Sargsyan said Armenia is committed to deeper cooperation. The
agreement will be signed by March 31.
Most probably, after the visit of Shoygu and Borduzha questions have
occurred in Washington therefore the ambassador and Karen Hilliard
visited the government with specific proposals. Perhaps Ambassador
Heffern has made sure that the American visit last December and
meeting with Vice President Biden are still valid.
It is possible that the guests are sure that everything is valid but
tried to find out whether official Yerevan has given up the declared
goal of economic and political diversification.
The West, namely Washington, has mentioned not only in backstage
talks but also in public statements that no step is expected from
Armenia which will harm Armenia's relation with Russia. Ambassador
John Heffern has recently stated in the U.S. Congress that Washington
understands the diverse and long history of the relationship between
Armenia and Russia.
Over years the web of the Armenian-Russian relation has got so
mingled that rejecting it would endanger Armenia and is practically
impossible. The problem is to establish a system along with relations
and to form an economic and political alternative, in other words,
good and cooperative relation not only with Russia but also with the
West, in this case Washington.
The formation of the alternative or parallel economic and political
platform will allow discussing the Armenian-Russian relationship from
a more sovereign aspect and transform it from a web to effective
partnership. The West is trying to resolve the strategic issue
of formation of this parallel reality. The dynamics and scope of
this process, as well as the partners is another issue. Obviously,
the most effective and objective partner is the government, and the
choice is already made inside the government.
This is not the best option, of course, but it is the least of all
troubles unless there is a new conceptual and systemic platform.