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WHY PATRUSHEV CAME TO ARMENIA
Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev had been
in Yerevan and met Serzh Sargsyan before the latter left for Poland.
Patrushev's visit, according to the official message, was held upon
the invitation of his Armenian counterpart Arthur Baghdasaryan. The
Russian official attended a number of events in Armenia, but the aim
of this visit was different.
Mainly the purpose of his visit was his statement made in Gyumri that
Armenia has no problem in terms of security. The security issue is the
key in the Armenian-Russian relations and Russia is considered to be
the guarantor of the Armenian security. Russian frontier troops are
at Armenia's borders, besides Russia keeps increasing its military
contingent in Armenia.
On the other hand, the security issue is an axis one also in the Euro
integration process. Serzh Sargsyan's visit to Poland is a proof
of this. At his meeting with the president of Poland, he actually
demanded guarantees from the West. Poland is the leading country of
Eastern Europe and the "authorized representative" of the Euro-Atlantic
community in Eastern Europe and ex-Soviet Union territory. Poland is
coordinating integration processes in this area.
Europe does not impose sharp conditions on Armenia taking into account
the Russian element. At the same time it does not want to have another
partner which has problems with Russia. On the other hand, security
issues need clarity and at a certain point the issue on the Russian
bases and borders will be pushed to the first row with the demand
of "diversification". This does not suppose for resistance, at the
same time for "monopoly", especially in terms of implementation of
economic projects.
For now, Russia's military presence in Armenia has no other content
but to keep the borders closed taking into account Turkey's wish to
keep Armenia isolated. Here, we can say that Russia and Turkey are
jointly leading the isolation policy. The situation at the border with
Iran is not better: despite the open communications, Russia controls
all processes with Iran.
Patrushev's visit was perhaps aimed at underlining this fact and
showing that Armenia has nowhere to "escape". Hence, Serzh Sargsyan's
statements in Poland were either aimed at receiving security guarantees
or they were an alibi in case Armenia does not resist the Russian
pressure and gets integrated into the Customs Union.
The situation is really serious in the sense that Armenians have
the bitter experience of Russian-Turkish agreements, for example, on
the eve of 1915 events. It is not ruled out that Patrushev made such
hints during his visit. On the other hand, when later Russia left the
Armenian territory, Armenians, having no other external hopes, managed
to set up the first republic and enlarged its borders. Then Russia
came back and again gave the territories to Turkey and Azerbaijan.
After the USSR collapse, Russia again left Armenia, and Armenians won.
The interests of Russia and Armenia don't match: this is a historical
and political rule, and Armenia should accept it.
By the way, the Turkish massacres of Armenians were determined by
Armenians' being the "fifth column of Russia".
Haik Aramyan 11:26 26/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30281
From: Baghdasarian
Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev had been
in Yerevan and met Serzh Sargsyan before the latter left for Poland.
Patrushev's visit, according to the official message, was held upon
the invitation of his Armenian counterpart Arthur Baghdasaryan. The
Russian official attended a number of events in Armenia, but the aim
of this visit was different.
Mainly the purpose of his visit was his statement made in Gyumri that
Armenia has no problem in terms of security. The security issue is the
key in the Armenian-Russian relations and Russia is considered to be
the guarantor of the Armenian security. Russian frontier troops are
at Armenia's borders, besides Russia keeps increasing its military
contingent in Armenia.
On the other hand, the security issue is an axis one also in the Euro
integration process. Serzh Sargsyan's visit to Poland is a proof
of this. At his meeting with the president of Poland, he actually
demanded guarantees from the West. Poland is the leading country of
Eastern Europe and the "authorized representative" of the Euro-Atlantic
community in Eastern Europe and ex-Soviet Union territory. Poland is
coordinating integration processes in this area.
Europe does not impose sharp conditions on Armenia taking into account
the Russian element. At the same time it does not want to have another
partner which has problems with Russia. On the other hand, security
issues need clarity and at a certain point the issue on the Russian
bases and borders will be pushed to the first row with the demand
of "diversification". This does not suppose for resistance, at the
same time for "monopoly", especially in terms of implementation of
economic projects.
For now, Russia's military presence in Armenia has no other content
but to keep the borders closed taking into account Turkey's wish to
keep Armenia isolated. Here, we can say that Russia and Turkey are
jointly leading the isolation policy. The situation at the border with
Iran is not better: despite the open communications, Russia controls
all processes with Iran.
Patrushev's visit was perhaps aimed at underlining this fact and
showing that Armenia has nowhere to "escape". Hence, Serzh Sargsyan's
statements in Poland were either aimed at receiving security guarantees
or they were an alibi in case Armenia does not resist the Russian
pressure and gets integrated into the Customs Union.
The situation is really serious in the sense that Armenians have
the bitter experience of Russian-Turkish agreements, for example, on
the eve of 1915 events. It is not ruled out that Patrushev made such
hints during his visit. On the other hand, when later Russia left the
Armenian territory, Armenians, having no other external hopes, managed
to set up the first republic and enlarged its borders. Then Russia
came back and again gave the territories to Turkey and Azerbaijan.
After the USSR collapse, Russia again left Armenia, and Armenians won.
The interests of Russia and Armenia don't match: this is a historical
and political rule, and Armenia should accept it.
By the way, the Turkish massacres of Armenians were determined by
Armenians' being the "fifth column of Russia".
Haik Aramyan 11:26 26/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30281
From: Baghdasarian