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PERHAPS KREMLIN GOT RID OF BUGBEAR
James Hakobyan
Comments - Friday, 13 September 2013, 15:23
In Bishkek the summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organization kicked off.
The member states and observers attended it. The presidents of its
member states Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and
Tajikistan met in Bishkek. The heads of Iran, Mongolia and Afghanistan
have joined them. The secretaries general of Eurasian Union, CSTO,
as well as the executive secretary of CIS, the UN deputy secretary
general and the representatives of Pakistan and India will also
participate in the summit. One of the key issues on the agenda is
Syria. It would be ingenuous to think that the summit will consider
Armenia's wish as well. The wish to get an observer status in SCO,
not the wish to join the Customs Union is meant. A few days ago the
prime minister of Armenia told the prime minister of China. The prime
minister of China noted that Beijing will discuss the issue with the
SCO member states two or three days before the summit in Bishkek. This
is, perhaps, one of the best opportunities to discuss the issue of
Armenia, at least informally, if certainly Putin has not forgotten
about Armenia. Someone in Armenia should make a precautionary call
and make a reminder because the world powers are too busy now with
other things, and they may not remember for several more years that
Armenia has expressed such a wish. Interestingly, Armenia first told
about this wish to Beijing, at least publicly. Meanwhile, it would be
logical to tell first the "strategic partner" which is an SCO member
too. Perhaps, Yerevan thought that Beijing could be jealous. So why
can't Russia be jealous that Yerevan first applies to Beijing. It is
not ruled out that this request is an Armenian-Russian agreement. In
other words, on September 3 Armenia may have discussed the issue
with Putin who proposed asking China first. The point is that China
and Russia are SCO leaders. If Armenia turned to Russia first, and
Moscow were unable to refuse, it would be the "hostage" of the issue of
granting Armenia an SCO observer status. If China refused, that would
indicate Moscow's weakness and ceding to China, it might have to reach
agreements on some other issues, reaching a compromise with Beijing.
Certainly, Moscow will not have to make a compromise with Beijing
for the sake of Armenia. Therefore, the Kremlin advised Yerevan to
talk to Beijing first, getting rid of a bugbear, especially that it
got what it wanted.
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30882
From: Baghdasarian
James Hakobyan
Comments - Friday, 13 September 2013, 15:23
In Bishkek the summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organization kicked off.
The member states and observers attended it. The presidents of its
member states Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and
Tajikistan met in Bishkek. The heads of Iran, Mongolia and Afghanistan
have joined them. The secretaries general of Eurasian Union, CSTO,
as well as the executive secretary of CIS, the UN deputy secretary
general and the representatives of Pakistan and India will also
participate in the summit. One of the key issues on the agenda is
Syria. It would be ingenuous to think that the summit will consider
Armenia's wish as well. The wish to get an observer status in SCO,
not the wish to join the Customs Union is meant. A few days ago the
prime minister of Armenia told the prime minister of China. The prime
minister of China noted that Beijing will discuss the issue with the
SCO member states two or three days before the summit in Bishkek. This
is, perhaps, one of the best opportunities to discuss the issue of
Armenia, at least informally, if certainly Putin has not forgotten
about Armenia. Someone in Armenia should make a precautionary call
and make a reminder because the world powers are too busy now with
other things, and they may not remember for several more years that
Armenia has expressed such a wish. Interestingly, Armenia first told
about this wish to Beijing, at least publicly. Meanwhile, it would be
logical to tell first the "strategic partner" which is an SCO member
too. Perhaps, Yerevan thought that Beijing could be jealous. So why
can't Russia be jealous that Yerevan first applies to Beijing. It is
not ruled out that this request is an Armenian-Russian agreement. In
other words, on September 3 Armenia may have discussed the issue
with Putin who proposed asking China first. The point is that China
and Russia are SCO leaders. If Armenia turned to Russia first, and
Moscow were unable to refuse, it would be the "hostage" of the issue of
granting Armenia an SCO observer status. If China refused, that would
indicate Moscow's weakness and ceding to China, it might have to reach
agreements on some other issues, reaching a compromise with Beijing.
Certainly, Moscow will not have to make a compromise with Beijing
for the sake of Armenia. Therefore, the Kremlin advised Yerevan to
talk to Beijing first, getting rid of a bugbear, especially that it
got what it wanted.
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30882
From: Baghdasarian