Aliyev's letter was response to Armenia, says Russian expert
15:34 - 31.05.14
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's letter, which the Kazakh leader
read out at the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council's Summit on Tuesday,
was a response to the Armenian prime minister, according to a Russian
expert.
In an interview with Tert.am, Modest Kolerov, a first class advisor of
the Russian Federation and the editor of the news agency Rex, said the
Azerbaijani leader's implicit remark on ruling out Nagorno-Karabakh's
membership in the Eurasian Union came as a counterbalance to PM Hovik
Abrahamyan's statement that Armenia's membership in the Russia-led
economic bloc would be out of the question without Nagorno-Karabakh.
"I think [Kazakh President Norsultan] Nazarbaev's speech was an
attempt to respond to Armenia's public ultimatum that the country
would either join the Customs Union with Karabakh or not join it at
all
"I mean the statement made by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan about a
fortnight ago. I think Nazarbaev adequately understands that the
ultimatum was directed to the leaders of the other EaU countries as
well," he said.
Asked whether the Russian bid to join the common economic was within
the country's internationally recognized borders given that Crimea,
Ukraine's former autonomous region which became a part of the country
as a result of a recent referendum, is widely seen as an annexed
territory, Kolerov said he sees essential differences between the
Crimea and Karabakh.
"Russia did not join the Eurasian Union. Russia joined the Customs
Union which later developed into a Eurasian Union. And Crimea was not
part of Russia at the time," the expert noted.
"Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan and the spokesperson for the
ruling [Republican] Party Eduard Sharmazanov simultaneously voiced an
ultimatum saying that Armenia would either join the Customs Union with
Karabakh or not join it at all. It isn't as though Armenia had no
legal act or decision - political or popular - on recognizing the
Nagorno-Karabakh independence. But Russia now recognizes Crimea as
part of its territory ... Armenia does not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh
as part of its country but wishes to join the Customs Union with
Karabakh," he added.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/05/31/kolerov/
15:34 - 31.05.14
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's letter, which the Kazakh leader
read out at the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council's Summit on Tuesday,
was a response to the Armenian prime minister, according to a Russian
expert.
In an interview with Tert.am, Modest Kolerov, a first class advisor of
the Russian Federation and the editor of the news agency Rex, said the
Azerbaijani leader's implicit remark on ruling out Nagorno-Karabakh's
membership in the Eurasian Union came as a counterbalance to PM Hovik
Abrahamyan's statement that Armenia's membership in the Russia-led
economic bloc would be out of the question without Nagorno-Karabakh.
"I think [Kazakh President Norsultan] Nazarbaev's speech was an
attempt to respond to Armenia's public ultimatum that the country
would either join the Customs Union with Karabakh or not join it at
all
"I mean the statement made by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan about a
fortnight ago. I think Nazarbaev adequately understands that the
ultimatum was directed to the leaders of the other EaU countries as
well," he said.
Asked whether the Russian bid to join the common economic was within
the country's internationally recognized borders given that Crimea,
Ukraine's former autonomous region which became a part of the country
as a result of a recent referendum, is widely seen as an annexed
territory, Kolerov said he sees essential differences between the
Crimea and Karabakh.
"Russia did not join the Eurasian Union. Russia joined the Customs
Union which later developed into a Eurasian Union. And Crimea was not
part of Russia at the time," the expert noted.
"Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan and the spokesperson for the
ruling [Republican] Party Eduard Sharmazanov simultaneously voiced an
ultimatum saying that Armenia would either join the Customs Union with
Karabakh or not join it at all. It isn't as though Armenia had no
legal act or decision - political or popular - on recognizing the
Nagorno-Karabakh independence. But Russia now recognizes Crimea as
part of its territory ... Armenia does not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh
as part of its country but wishes to join the Customs Union with
Karabakh," he added.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/05/31/kolerov/