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KREMLIN HAS EXCHANGED ARMENIA'S MEMBERSHIP WITH BAKU
Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments - Tuesday, 03 June 2014, 17:00
The Russian minister of economic development Alexey Ulyukayev has
announced in Baku that Russia invites Azerbaijan to integrate with
the Eurasian Economic Union on negotiable conditions. Ulyukayev has
announced that the issue is under consideration.
In fact, Russia is inviting Azerbaijan to join the Eurasian project.
It happens after the summit in Astana where Aliyev's border stipulation
to Armenian membership was presented and actually accepted by Putin,
Nazarbayev and Lukashenko.
This is the price Russia paid to discuss integration with Azerbaijan.
Hence, it is more important to discuss the extent or format of
integration with Baku than to involve Armenia in the Eurasian Union.
Moscow has agreed to suspend the issue of Armenia's membership, perhaps
in return for Baku's authorization or approval on making a statement on
integration. The point is that a few days ago the Azerbaijani officials
announced that membership to the Customs Union is not on Baku's agenda.
In fact, there might be no issue of membership. The process of
discussing the issue with Baku is what matters to Moscow. Azerbaijan
is not Armenia for Moscow, levers of pressure on Aliyev are not the
same as those on Sargsyan. Baku may afford to put forth claims to
Russia, especially that it is a big buyer of Russian arms. Moscow
will be cautious not to lose this customer.
Discussions on integration projects are a good platform for Baku in
terms of the issue of Artsakh and geopolitical positions. Azerbaijan
has understood that its value has increased steeply in the result of
full vassalization of Armenia. Baku will try to raise its value to
the West through launching a new game with Russia.
Time will show whether Aliyev will fail or not. Now his positions
are quite firm despite the diplomatic shooting with the United States.
Moreover, the tough pronouncements by the United States are evidence
to Baku's growing role.
This is the consequence of the policy of Armenia. Serzh Sargsyan has
handed over the sovereignty of Armenia to a union where the Armenian
interests are totally ignored, and where all the members together
have no single emotion on the Armenian interests. Serzh Sargsyan's
decision did not encounter political resistance in Armenia. Moreover,
it has been directly or indirectly justified.
After Astana the question discussed in Armenia is limited to the logic
"is Artsakh coming with us or not?" while the issue should have been
altogether out of discussion, and it should have been clear after
Astana that there are no such issues as "with or without Artsakh"
or "to join or not to join the Eurasian Union" but after Astana this
issue should have been crossed out of the agenda.
However, there are agendas in political systems whereas Armenia
does not have such a system. Armenia has a competitive system of
commercial groups fighting for power whose subjects either produce or
lease political shop windows for themselves. Therefore, the issue is
"with or without Artsakh". In other words, the domestic issue is an
inquiry on the price.
- See more at:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/32532#sthash.OQ3Q8Dru.dpuf
From: A. Papazian
Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments - Tuesday, 03 June 2014, 17:00
The Russian minister of economic development Alexey Ulyukayev has
announced in Baku that Russia invites Azerbaijan to integrate with
the Eurasian Economic Union on negotiable conditions. Ulyukayev has
announced that the issue is under consideration.
In fact, Russia is inviting Azerbaijan to join the Eurasian project.
It happens after the summit in Astana where Aliyev's border stipulation
to Armenian membership was presented and actually accepted by Putin,
Nazarbayev and Lukashenko.
This is the price Russia paid to discuss integration with Azerbaijan.
Hence, it is more important to discuss the extent or format of
integration with Baku than to involve Armenia in the Eurasian Union.
Moscow has agreed to suspend the issue of Armenia's membership, perhaps
in return for Baku's authorization or approval on making a statement on
integration. The point is that a few days ago the Azerbaijani officials
announced that membership to the Customs Union is not on Baku's agenda.
In fact, there might be no issue of membership. The process of
discussing the issue with Baku is what matters to Moscow. Azerbaijan
is not Armenia for Moscow, levers of pressure on Aliyev are not the
same as those on Sargsyan. Baku may afford to put forth claims to
Russia, especially that it is a big buyer of Russian arms. Moscow
will be cautious not to lose this customer.
Discussions on integration projects are a good platform for Baku in
terms of the issue of Artsakh and geopolitical positions. Azerbaijan
has understood that its value has increased steeply in the result of
full vassalization of Armenia. Baku will try to raise its value to
the West through launching a new game with Russia.
Time will show whether Aliyev will fail or not. Now his positions
are quite firm despite the diplomatic shooting with the United States.
Moreover, the tough pronouncements by the United States are evidence
to Baku's growing role.
This is the consequence of the policy of Armenia. Serzh Sargsyan has
handed over the sovereignty of Armenia to a union where the Armenian
interests are totally ignored, and where all the members together
have no single emotion on the Armenian interests. Serzh Sargsyan's
decision did not encounter political resistance in Armenia. Moreover,
it has been directly or indirectly justified.
After Astana the question discussed in Armenia is limited to the logic
"is Artsakh coming with us or not?" while the issue should have been
altogether out of discussion, and it should have been clear after
Astana that there are no such issues as "with or without Artsakh"
or "to join or not to join the Eurasian Union" but after Astana this
issue should have been crossed out of the agenda.
However, there are agendas in political systems whereas Armenia
does not have such a system. Armenia has a competitive system of
commercial groups fighting for power whose subjects either produce or
lease political shop windows for themselves. Therefore, the issue is
"with or without Artsakh". In other words, the domestic issue is an
inquiry on the price.
- See more at:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/32532#sthash.OQ3Q8Dru.dpuf
From: A. Papazian