Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Aug 25 2014
Sanctions to intensify Eurasian integration
25 August 2014 - 3:43pm
By Vestnik Kavkaza
When Moscow launched an embargo on certain imports from the countries
which have supported sanctions against Russia, Russian economists
focused on ways of import substitution and opening new markets for the
country. In this context, interest in post-Soviet states has started
to grow in political circles. One of the countries which could be a
potential market for Russia is Azerbaijan. The Russian authorities
have begun to improve ties with the country in various spheres in
recent times.
According to Denis Tyurin, director of the SOC Business Club, at the
moment Russian-Azerbaijani relations are going through a renaissance -
there is improvement of ties in the economic, political, and
humanitarian spheres: "Many Azerbaijani students visit Russia and
participate in events which are organized by their Russian friends.
And young people from Russia often visit Azerbaijan, learn about its
culture, try to look at the country in a different way."
Tyrin thinks that "the whole complex of the relations which can be
characterized as public diplomacy between Russia and Azerbaijan needs
impetus."
At the same time relations between the countries are not cloudless.
The head of the SOC Business Club is sure that the problem of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict spoils relations: "As for the political
dialogue, the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh and the whole difficult
complex of problems of the South Caucasus spoil such a positive
picture which we can see in the economy and the humanitarian sphere.
Russia is worried about the future of the region, as security and the
stable economic and humanitarian development of Russia depend on it."
The SOC Business Club has a position that the conflicts in the
post-Soviet space can be settled through intensive development of
economic ties.
"To restore broken dialogues and undermined friendships between
people, it is necessary to develop humanitarian and economic contacts.
As for the dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, considering the
Nagorno-Karabakh factor, economic issues could play a big and
important role," Denis Tyurin says. He thinks that "if politicians of
Armenia and Azerbaijan give priority to increasing the living
standards of the population and development of economic ties between
regions of Armenia and Azerbaijan, it would encourage the development
of political dialogue."
Speaking about improvement of relations within post-Soviet space,
Lyudmila Shuvalova, the director of the Center for Socio-Conservative
Policy, stated that the system of international security was
ambiguous, as Europe, Russia, and post-Soviet states had changed over
10-20 years. "Azerbaijan is the best example - it is a dynamically
developing country which has achieved significant successes in
comparison with other countries of the CIS. The successes were
achieved due to a thoughtful and smart economic policy," Lyudmila
Shuvalova is sure.
Regarding sanctions, Shuvalova said that they could be beneficial for
Russia: "In our country we can launch reforms which are necessary, but
haven't been launched before for various reasons. Probably the
sanctions will give impetus to agriculture, light industry, and so on.
Of course it is a difficult path, but this is our reality today."
Shuvalova also stressed that due to the circumstances Eurasian
economic integration could be intensified.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/politics/59224.html
Aug 25 2014
Sanctions to intensify Eurasian integration
25 August 2014 - 3:43pm
By Vestnik Kavkaza
When Moscow launched an embargo on certain imports from the countries
which have supported sanctions against Russia, Russian economists
focused on ways of import substitution and opening new markets for the
country. In this context, interest in post-Soviet states has started
to grow in political circles. One of the countries which could be a
potential market for Russia is Azerbaijan. The Russian authorities
have begun to improve ties with the country in various spheres in
recent times.
According to Denis Tyurin, director of the SOC Business Club, at the
moment Russian-Azerbaijani relations are going through a renaissance -
there is improvement of ties in the economic, political, and
humanitarian spheres: "Many Azerbaijani students visit Russia and
participate in events which are organized by their Russian friends.
And young people from Russia often visit Azerbaijan, learn about its
culture, try to look at the country in a different way."
Tyrin thinks that "the whole complex of the relations which can be
characterized as public diplomacy between Russia and Azerbaijan needs
impetus."
At the same time relations between the countries are not cloudless.
The head of the SOC Business Club is sure that the problem of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict spoils relations: "As for the political
dialogue, the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh and the whole difficult
complex of problems of the South Caucasus spoil such a positive
picture which we can see in the economy and the humanitarian sphere.
Russia is worried about the future of the region, as security and the
stable economic and humanitarian development of Russia depend on it."
The SOC Business Club has a position that the conflicts in the
post-Soviet space can be settled through intensive development of
economic ties.
"To restore broken dialogues and undermined friendships between
people, it is necessary to develop humanitarian and economic contacts.
As for the dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, considering the
Nagorno-Karabakh factor, economic issues could play a big and
important role," Denis Tyurin says. He thinks that "if politicians of
Armenia and Azerbaijan give priority to increasing the living
standards of the population and development of economic ties between
regions of Armenia and Azerbaijan, it would encourage the development
of political dialogue."
Speaking about improvement of relations within post-Soviet space,
Lyudmila Shuvalova, the director of the Center for Socio-Conservative
Policy, stated that the system of international security was
ambiguous, as Europe, Russia, and post-Soviet states had changed over
10-20 years. "Azerbaijan is the best example - it is a dynamically
developing country which has achieved significant successes in
comparison with other countries of the CIS. The successes were
achieved due to a thoughtful and smart economic policy," Lyudmila
Shuvalova is sure.
Regarding sanctions, Shuvalova said that they could be beneficial for
Russia: "In our country we can launch reforms which are necessary, but
haven't been launched before for various reasons. Probably the
sanctions will give impetus to agriculture, light industry, and so on.
Of course it is a difficult path, but this is our reality today."
Shuvalova also stressed that due to the circumstances Eurasian
economic integration could be intensified.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/politics/59224.html