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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
June 27 2014
27 June 2014 - 1:48pm
By Ishkhan Arutyunyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for VK
The statement made in Yerevan by Dmitry Kiselev, the director of
the Russia Today international news agency, has become the most
discussed topic of the month in Armenia. The Russian journalist said
at the Armenian-Russian Parliamentary Club on June 1 that cooperation
between Armenia and Russia in the defense sector will be reconsidered
unless the Russian language gains a higher status in Armenia. Another
instance highlighted by the Armenian mass media is of an anonymous
taxi driver who, according to Kiselev, failed to name the fare for
the ride in Russian.
"Pro-Western" Armenian media sources have presented the statement of
the Russian guest to the public in an "improper manner." The same
sources starting flooding media with comments blaming the Armenian
authorities for allowing Kiselev to tell them what language they should
speak. They quickly reminded that most sessions with Russian guests in
Yerevan were held in the Russian language. What makes the story all the
more peculiar is that it happened after Armenia's announcement about
joining the Customs Union. The session attended by Kiselev was held
in Russian, and no Armenian translation was made. The outraged public
was even more stirred up by the violation of the law on language in
the presence of legislators. The law says that all state offices and
organizations in Armenia are obliged to provide synchronic translation
of a public speech, official and other high-scale meetings.
Some "pro-Western" analysts have even called the Russian journalist's
words "another threat to Armenia's sovereignty." In other words,
Kiselev's words were interpreted for the benefit of "pro-Western"
figures. Political analyst Sergey Minasyan characterized the reaction
of political and public activists as over-emotional. The expert
associates the public reaction with the social shock that followed
Armenia's announcement to join the Customs Union. Vice Speaker of the
Armenian Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov (Republican Party), attending
the session on June 1, said that he saw no decline of the Russian
language in Armenia. The MP noted that relations between Armenia and
Russia were not in danger and were developing fast.
VK commentary: Yerevan has only two Russian-language schools today.
Armenia has been receiving beneficial loans and free aid from Russia
since the first day of its independence. The granted funds could
be used to open more schools, especially considering that Armenia
has no such intense economic ties with any other country. Economic
and political benefits dictate the need to improve the status of
the Russian language in Armenia. Evidently, Armenia likes receiving
free financial support from Russia. But when such people as Kiselev
and Leontyev attempt to submit a claim towards the Armenians, the
closest friend of the Russian people, some propose banning them from
visiting Armenia. This casts doubts on the sincerity of the Armenian
authorities. It is noteworthy that only a strong politician like
Vladimir Putin could impede the signing of an economic deal of Armenia
with the West and start talks on membership in the Eurasian Union
instead. In our opinion, the people treating Kiselev and Leontyev
inappropriately should at least apologize to them. Concerning the
Russian language, the language of Pushkin, Tolstoy, Lermontov, it
should be cherished, and Russian speakers should be respected the way
those great people respected Caucasians and the Caucasus. People should
be just as sincere as they were in all aspects, especially friendship.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/society/56951.html
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
June 27 2014
27 June 2014 - 1:48pm
By Ishkhan Arutyunyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for VK
The statement made in Yerevan by Dmitry Kiselev, the director of
the Russia Today international news agency, has become the most
discussed topic of the month in Armenia. The Russian journalist said
at the Armenian-Russian Parliamentary Club on June 1 that cooperation
between Armenia and Russia in the defense sector will be reconsidered
unless the Russian language gains a higher status in Armenia. Another
instance highlighted by the Armenian mass media is of an anonymous
taxi driver who, according to Kiselev, failed to name the fare for
the ride in Russian.
"Pro-Western" Armenian media sources have presented the statement of
the Russian guest to the public in an "improper manner." The same
sources starting flooding media with comments blaming the Armenian
authorities for allowing Kiselev to tell them what language they should
speak. They quickly reminded that most sessions with Russian guests in
Yerevan were held in the Russian language. What makes the story all the
more peculiar is that it happened after Armenia's announcement about
joining the Customs Union. The session attended by Kiselev was held
in Russian, and no Armenian translation was made. The outraged public
was even more stirred up by the violation of the law on language in
the presence of legislators. The law says that all state offices and
organizations in Armenia are obliged to provide synchronic translation
of a public speech, official and other high-scale meetings.
Some "pro-Western" analysts have even called the Russian journalist's
words "another threat to Armenia's sovereignty." In other words,
Kiselev's words were interpreted for the benefit of "pro-Western"
figures. Political analyst Sergey Minasyan characterized the reaction
of political and public activists as over-emotional. The expert
associates the public reaction with the social shock that followed
Armenia's announcement to join the Customs Union. Vice Speaker of the
Armenian Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov (Republican Party), attending
the session on June 1, said that he saw no decline of the Russian
language in Armenia. The MP noted that relations between Armenia and
Russia were not in danger and were developing fast.
VK commentary: Yerevan has only two Russian-language schools today.
Armenia has been receiving beneficial loans and free aid from Russia
since the first day of its independence. The granted funds could
be used to open more schools, especially considering that Armenia
has no such intense economic ties with any other country. Economic
and political benefits dictate the need to improve the status of
the Russian language in Armenia. Evidently, Armenia likes receiving
free financial support from Russia. But when such people as Kiselev
and Leontyev attempt to submit a claim towards the Armenians, the
closest friend of the Russian people, some propose banning them from
visiting Armenia. This casts doubts on the sincerity of the Armenian
authorities. It is noteworthy that only a strong politician like
Vladimir Putin could impede the signing of an economic deal of Armenia
with the West and start talks on membership in the Eurasian Union
instead. In our opinion, the people treating Kiselev and Leontyev
inappropriately should at least apologize to them. Concerning the
Russian language, the language of Pushkin, Tolstoy, Lermontov, it
should be cherished, and Russian speakers should be respected the way
those great people respected Caucasians and the Caucasus. People should
be just as sincere as they were in all aspects, especially friendship.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/society/56951.html