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BELARUS LEADER'S "GAME OF THRONES" AGAINST ARMENIA INEFFECTIVE
October 25, 2013 - 17:13 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Belarus President's strange statements may take
some getting used to, with Alexander Lukashenko's remarks being more
in the vein of what Russian leader Vladimir Putin could say.
A while ago, Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev gave Lukashenko $200 million
for gas payments. Seems like Lukashenko decided it's time to pay his
dues by speaking against Armenia.
As Lukashenko recently told CIS media leaders, Azerbaijan's opinion
needs to be considered in admitting Armenia to the Russia-led Customs
Union. "Armenia has an unresolved territorial issue with Azerbaijan,
so we have to consider the latter's opinion," he said.
Lukashenko must be confusing things: first, it's Russia, not Azerbaijan
who decides the CU accession issues; second, the CU is not NATO which
does not admit countries with unresolved conflicts. And finally:
trying to play the first violin in all of the CIS organizations may
turn out badly for Belarus.
Lukashenko's long-term presidency seems to be affecting his sense
of reality. After all, his policy of pressuring Moscow and trying to
gain leadership in CSTO and CU to demonstrate his irreplaceability may
fall through. However, Belarus may prove to be not-so-irreplaceable:
it's even possible for Armenia to take its place in the CU hierarchy,
being of more strategic importance to Moscow in the latter's attempt
to reaffirm its presence in the Caucasus and Near East.
Lukashenko might have wanted to make some eccentric statement at
a summit of CIS leaders in Moscow, but it's unlikely he will. The
summit is headed by Putin who cannot stand any statements aimed to
undermine his leadership in the CIS.
And once again: it's not Baku's business to decide on Armenia-related
issues. Azerbaijan had better take care of its rigged elections and
"caviar diplomacy" everyone is sick and tired of.
Karine Ter-Sahakian/ PanARMENIAN.Net
October 25, 2013 - 17:13 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Belarus President's strange statements may take
some getting used to, with Alexander Lukashenko's remarks being more
in the vein of what Russian leader Vladimir Putin could say.
A while ago, Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev gave Lukashenko $200 million
for gas payments. Seems like Lukashenko decided it's time to pay his
dues by speaking against Armenia.
As Lukashenko recently told CIS media leaders, Azerbaijan's opinion
needs to be considered in admitting Armenia to the Russia-led Customs
Union. "Armenia has an unresolved territorial issue with Azerbaijan,
so we have to consider the latter's opinion," he said.
Lukashenko must be confusing things: first, it's Russia, not Azerbaijan
who decides the CU accession issues; second, the CU is not NATO which
does not admit countries with unresolved conflicts. And finally:
trying to play the first violin in all of the CIS organizations may
turn out badly for Belarus.
Lukashenko's long-term presidency seems to be affecting his sense
of reality. After all, his policy of pressuring Moscow and trying to
gain leadership in CSTO and CU to demonstrate his irreplaceability may
fall through. However, Belarus may prove to be not-so-irreplaceable:
it's even possible for Armenia to take its place in the CU hierarchy,
being of more strategic importance to Moscow in the latter's attempt
to reaffirm its presence in the Caucasus and Near East.
Lukashenko might have wanted to make some eccentric statement at
a summit of CIS leaders in Moscow, but it's unlikely he will. The
summit is headed by Putin who cannot stand any statements aimed to
undermine his leadership in the CIS.
And once again: it's not Baku's business to decide on Armenia-related
issues. Azerbaijan had better take care of its rigged elections and
"caviar diplomacy" everyone is sick and tired of.
Karine Ter-Sahakian/ PanARMENIAN.Net