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ARMENIAN PM - A RESIGNATION, NOT TO CHANGE ANYTHING
Cihan News Agency, Turkey
April 4 2014
AM_ERIV - 04.04.2014 16:26:07
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan has decided to write his name
into the history books, but late, and with small letters.
Submitting an appeal on resignation, Sargsyan did not manage to
save his image, which noticeably suffered after Yerevan spat on all
agreements with the West and voluntarily surrendered to the Customs
Union.
Reasons for resignation are obvious - the unsuccessful policies of
Sargsyan, who sent Armenia's already anaemic economy into a coma;
the policies of the Armenian president who did not support the
prime minister's European aspirations; and of course the Kremlin's
discontent over the PM, who is supporting Armenia's right for European
integration.
In fact, Sargsyan just lost himself. On one hand, the PM said he
was ready to sign an agreement on economic association with the EU,
and on the other hand he was negotiating to join the Customs Union.
The prime minister's pro-Western orientation was also like a bone in
the throat to a handful of Armenian oligarchs who run the political and
economic systems of the country. Apparently, Sargsyan's recent visit
to Brussels, where he said Armenia is ready to sign the political
part of the association agreement, seriously worried the people who
decide the fate of the poor little Armenia.
The matter here rests in the fact that the common customs legislation
in the Customs Union will play into the hands of the oligarchic top
of the Armenian political elite, which in fact govern the country.
Following Armenia's joining the Customs Union the major importers -
the well-known Armenian oligarchs- will be able to conduct the majority
of their deals inside the shadow economy.
After joining the Customs Union the customs duties, levied on
Armenia's border, will go to the union's budget, and then, according
to a predetermined quota, return to Armenia's state budget. That's to
say, the oligarchs paying customs duties when importing goods will get
their money back from Armenia's budget and this will only aggravate
corruption and limit the opportunities of small business. In this
state of affairs, Sargsyan could not stay in power, even if he really
wanted this.
Nevertheless, his resignation is unlikely to change anything, and
certainly it will not improve the economic situation in the country.
Armenia is not expected to recover from its economic coma when the
only means that could have helped -European integration -was rejected
in favor of the interests of a handful of people.
Armenia has no border with Russia. It has more to lose and nothing
to gain from joining the Customs Union. In fact, Armenia's accession
to the Customs Union will not solve any financial problems, since
there will not be investments made in an Armenia that has actually
openly declared itself a Russian outpost. The West will not take
the risk and rather fears to face the Russian pressure. So, in fact
Armenia doesn't have any economic reason for joining this structure
as distinct from the integration to European institutions.
Well, the hopes of the Armenian opposition, led by ex-President Levon
Ter-Petrosyan, who considers the resignation of the prime minister
as the first step in the process of regime change in the country,
are no more than a hope, they are unrealizable.
Armenians are not Ukrainians and do not often actively protest against
the exchange of their lives and well-being for the authorities'
vassal flirting with the "elder brother".
"Every nation deserves its ruler" and this phrase will determine the
further extinction of Armenia headed by its weak authorities.
From: A. Papazian
Cihan News Agency, Turkey
April 4 2014
AM_ERIV - 04.04.2014 16:26:07
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan has decided to write his name
into the history books, but late, and with small letters.
Submitting an appeal on resignation, Sargsyan did not manage to
save his image, which noticeably suffered after Yerevan spat on all
agreements with the West and voluntarily surrendered to the Customs
Union.
Reasons for resignation are obvious - the unsuccessful policies of
Sargsyan, who sent Armenia's already anaemic economy into a coma;
the policies of the Armenian president who did not support the
prime minister's European aspirations; and of course the Kremlin's
discontent over the PM, who is supporting Armenia's right for European
integration.
In fact, Sargsyan just lost himself. On one hand, the PM said he
was ready to sign an agreement on economic association with the EU,
and on the other hand he was negotiating to join the Customs Union.
The prime minister's pro-Western orientation was also like a bone in
the throat to a handful of Armenian oligarchs who run the political and
economic systems of the country. Apparently, Sargsyan's recent visit
to Brussels, where he said Armenia is ready to sign the political
part of the association agreement, seriously worried the people who
decide the fate of the poor little Armenia.
The matter here rests in the fact that the common customs legislation
in the Customs Union will play into the hands of the oligarchic top
of the Armenian political elite, which in fact govern the country.
Following Armenia's joining the Customs Union the major importers -
the well-known Armenian oligarchs- will be able to conduct the majority
of their deals inside the shadow economy.
After joining the Customs Union the customs duties, levied on
Armenia's border, will go to the union's budget, and then, according
to a predetermined quota, return to Armenia's state budget. That's to
say, the oligarchs paying customs duties when importing goods will get
their money back from Armenia's budget and this will only aggravate
corruption and limit the opportunities of small business. In this
state of affairs, Sargsyan could not stay in power, even if he really
wanted this.
Nevertheless, his resignation is unlikely to change anything, and
certainly it will not improve the economic situation in the country.
Armenia is not expected to recover from its economic coma when the
only means that could have helped -European integration -was rejected
in favor of the interests of a handful of people.
Armenia has no border with Russia. It has more to lose and nothing
to gain from joining the Customs Union. In fact, Armenia's accession
to the Customs Union will not solve any financial problems, since
there will not be investments made in an Armenia that has actually
openly declared itself a Russian outpost. The West will not take
the risk and rather fears to face the Russian pressure. So, in fact
Armenia doesn't have any economic reason for joining this structure
as distinct from the integration to European institutions.
Well, the hopes of the Armenian opposition, led by ex-President Levon
Ter-Petrosyan, who considers the resignation of the prime minister
as the first step in the process of regime change in the country,
are no more than a hope, they are unrealizable.
Armenians are not Ukrainians and do not often actively protest against
the exchange of their lives and well-being for the authorities'
vassal flirting with the "elder brother".
"Every nation deserves its ruler" and this phrase will determine the
further extinction of Armenia headed by its weak authorities.
From: A. Papazian