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SARGSYAN VISITS MOSCOW
Vestnik Kavkaza
March 12 2013
Russia
12 March 2013 - 8:13am
By Vestnik Kavkaza
Today a meeting between President of Armenia Serge Sargsyan and
President of Russia Vladimir Putin will take place in Moscow. It is
the first official visit abroad by the Armenian President after the
elections of February 18. During the meeting the leaders of the two
states will discuss Russian-Armenian relations, including cooperation
in the economic, political, and humanitarian spheres. It is expected
that the opening of the airport in Khojaly will be discussed. It
could heat the atmosphere of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations even more.
Ahead of the visit Vestnik Kavkaza decided to ask Russian experts
about their views on the issue.
Andrei Areshev, scientist of the Political and Scientific Studies
Institute of the Black-and-Caspian Seas Region, noted that the
presidents of the two countries have always a lot to discuss. ~SThe
Republic of Armenia is situated in a difficult situation at the
moment. In addition to the difficult socio-economic situation, there
are protests headed by Raffi Hovannisyan, the silver medallist of the
presidential elections. However, they are fading away. The foreign
political agenda is significantly represented in the Russian-Armenian
dialogue. We know that a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
is a priority for Armenian diplomacy and a difficult task. This
task cannot be resolved without close ties with Russia and the other
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.~T
Areshev doesn~Rt think a possible revival of using the airport
in Nagorno-Karabakh will be discussed directly in the bilateral
negotiations, ~Sbecause it is a specific issue. However, this issue
is a significant one, because we can see a serious escalation of
tension, first of all, by Azerbaijan. I think that Russia can state
its position on a possible revival of flights between Yerevan and
Stepanakert, but the rumours and guesses by the mass media are far
from truthful, I think. These questions are much more complicated,
as the whole set of issues is connected with a settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Russia~Rs opinion plays a significant
role in this process. At the same time, there are other factors which
influence the dynamics of events in the South Caucasus.~T
Alexei Vlasov, general director of the political scientific center
North-South, thinks that ~Smany Armenian experts expect serious
results from the point of view of economic cooperation between
Russia and Armenia and in the context of the new reality of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Regarding the economy, there are clear
signs ~V Armenia will ask for a gas discount, while Russia will
touch on cooperation between Yerevan and the Eurasian integration
project. It is difficult to predict results, but major Armenian mass
media are discussing that the gas discount question will depend on
a composition of the future government of Armenia ~V whether Tigran
Sarkisyan remains in the Premier~Rs chair or not. The rumours which
often appear in the Armenian information field won't be found true
or false after the end of the talks, but after a Cabinet is formed.~T
~SAs for security, some Armenian editorials expect that Vladimir
Putin will state his position on the opening of an international
airport in Khojaly. This aspect disturbs Baku of course, as well as
the mediators, who have stated many times that the international
airport issue is not a problem which can be resolved by one side
only. Even though this issue is not clear, Serge Sargsyan can speak
about Khojaly at the negotiations with his Russian partner. I believe
that Vladimir Putin is hardly likely to state the Russian position on
the international airport in Khojaly, at least not one that Armenian
officials want to hear. The peace is too fragile, the issue is too
acute, and Russia, which is one of Karabakh mediators, is unlikely
to shift its responsibility from one pan to another. It will try to
maintain a balanced position. In a few hours we will see the first
details of the talks between Vladimir Putin and Serge Sargsyan. This
time they attracted great attention,~T Vlasov said. .
Vestnik Kavkaza
March 12 2013
Russia
12 March 2013 - 8:13am
By Vestnik Kavkaza
Today a meeting between President of Armenia Serge Sargsyan and
President of Russia Vladimir Putin will take place in Moscow. It is
the first official visit abroad by the Armenian President after the
elections of February 18. During the meeting the leaders of the two
states will discuss Russian-Armenian relations, including cooperation
in the economic, political, and humanitarian spheres. It is expected
that the opening of the airport in Khojaly will be discussed. It
could heat the atmosphere of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations even more.
Ahead of the visit Vestnik Kavkaza decided to ask Russian experts
about their views on the issue.
Andrei Areshev, scientist of the Political and Scientific Studies
Institute of the Black-and-Caspian Seas Region, noted that the
presidents of the two countries have always a lot to discuss. ~SThe
Republic of Armenia is situated in a difficult situation at the
moment. In addition to the difficult socio-economic situation, there
are protests headed by Raffi Hovannisyan, the silver medallist of the
presidential elections. However, they are fading away. The foreign
political agenda is significantly represented in the Russian-Armenian
dialogue. We know that a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
is a priority for Armenian diplomacy and a difficult task. This
task cannot be resolved without close ties with Russia and the other
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.~T
Areshev doesn~Rt think a possible revival of using the airport
in Nagorno-Karabakh will be discussed directly in the bilateral
negotiations, ~Sbecause it is a specific issue. However, this issue
is a significant one, because we can see a serious escalation of
tension, first of all, by Azerbaijan. I think that Russia can state
its position on a possible revival of flights between Yerevan and
Stepanakert, but the rumours and guesses by the mass media are far
from truthful, I think. These questions are much more complicated,
as the whole set of issues is connected with a settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Russia~Rs opinion plays a significant
role in this process. At the same time, there are other factors which
influence the dynamics of events in the South Caucasus.~T
Alexei Vlasov, general director of the political scientific center
North-South, thinks that ~Smany Armenian experts expect serious
results from the point of view of economic cooperation between
Russia and Armenia and in the context of the new reality of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Regarding the economy, there are clear
signs ~V Armenia will ask for a gas discount, while Russia will
touch on cooperation between Yerevan and the Eurasian integration
project. It is difficult to predict results, but major Armenian mass
media are discussing that the gas discount question will depend on
a composition of the future government of Armenia ~V whether Tigran
Sarkisyan remains in the Premier~Rs chair or not. The rumours which
often appear in the Armenian information field won't be found true
or false after the end of the talks, but after a Cabinet is formed.~T
~SAs for security, some Armenian editorials expect that Vladimir
Putin will state his position on the opening of an international
airport in Khojaly. This aspect disturbs Baku of course, as well as
the mediators, who have stated many times that the international
airport issue is not a problem which can be resolved by one side
only. Even though this issue is not clear, Serge Sargsyan can speak
about Khojaly at the negotiations with his Russian partner. I believe
that Vladimir Putin is hardly likely to state the Russian position on
the international airport in Khojaly, at least not one that Armenian
officials want to hear. The peace is too fragile, the issue is too
acute, and Russia, which is one of Karabakh mediators, is unlikely
to shift its responsibility from one pan to another. It will try to
maintain a balanced position. In a few hours we will see the first
details of the talks between Vladimir Putin and Serge Sargsyan. This
time they attracted great attention,~T Vlasov said. .