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RUSSIA OR WEST: ARMENIA ON VERGE OF DEEP CONFRONTATION
Trend, Azerbaijan
May 8 2014
By Jamila Babayeva
Anti-Russia spirits have intensified in Armenia over the past few
months, because it doesn't seem as if Yerevan's strong pro-Russia
foreign policy can work in the interests of certain groups in the
society.
A decision to join the Russia-led Customs Union has given a new
impetus to the anti-Kremlin mood amid strong protests against the
Armenian authorities' pro-Russia policy.
This priority led the government to cancel an earlier decision to
sign the Association Agreement with the EU in November 2013. The EU
expressed regret over Armenia's decision, which has strained relations
between the sides.
Yerevan will witness the next anti-Russian protests on May 18. The
initiative group "We are against the Customs Union with Russia"
announced holding a rally in the Freedom Square. The group intends
to support "No Putinism" protest actions, which will be held in large
Russian cities on the same day.
The Armenian protesters plan to rally in front of the Russian embassy
in Armenia to protest the Kremlin's "inhuman and occupation policy".
The rally is expected to continue in front of the Presidential
residence.
Armenian opposition's anti-Russian initiatives and pro-Western rallies
will acquire new speed in the near future, a Turkish expert predicts.
"The Armenian people associate Azerbaijan's and Georgia's development
with their ties to the West," Turkish expert Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu told
AzerNews. "Georgia's development has given rise to many questions in
the Armenian society about their complicated situation. The Armenians
hold a positive attitude toward the EU, but Yerevan is far away from
the West due to the threat created by the authoritarian regime."
He predicts a rise in the anti-Russian mood and new developments in
Armenia under the new PM.
"The authorities who obey Russia will probably remove the West's
supporters from the government. Pro-Western Armenian opposition in
turn will increase its efforts to mobilize people who share their
views," he said.
The expert believes that distrust of Moscow reigns among Armenian
people. "The country has not benefited from Russia in any way since
its independence," he said.
Oztarsu believes that Russia has not taken any step to benefit Armenia
so far. Armenia is blocked in the region and does not have the support
of its neighboring countries, he added. Azernews
Trend, Azerbaijan
May 8 2014
By Jamila Babayeva
Anti-Russia spirits have intensified in Armenia over the past few
months, because it doesn't seem as if Yerevan's strong pro-Russia
foreign policy can work in the interests of certain groups in the
society.
A decision to join the Russia-led Customs Union has given a new
impetus to the anti-Kremlin mood amid strong protests against the
Armenian authorities' pro-Russia policy.
This priority led the government to cancel an earlier decision to
sign the Association Agreement with the EU in November 2013. The EU
expressed regret over Armenia's decision, which has strained relations
between the sides.
Yerevan will witness the next anti-Russian protests on May 18. The
initiative group "We are against the Customs Union with Russia"
announced holding a rally in the Freedom Square. The group intends
to support "No Putinism" protest actions, which will be held in large
Russian cities on the same day.
The Armenian protesters plan to rally in front of the Russian embassy
in Armenia to protest the Kremlin's "inhuman and occupation policy".
The rally is expected to continue in front of the Presidential
residence.
Armenian opposition's anti-Russian initiatives and pro-Western rallies
will acquire new speed in the near future, a Turkish expert predicts.
"The Armenian people associate Azerbaijan's and Georgia's development
with their ties to the West," Turkish expert Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu told
AzerNews. "Georgia's development has given rise to many questions in
the Armenian society about their complicated situation. The Armenians
hold a positive attitude toward the EU, but Yerevan is far away from
the West due to the threat created by the authoritarian regime."
He predicts a rise in the anti-Russian mood and new developments in
Armenia under the new PM.
"The authorities who obey Russia will probably remove the West's
supporters from the government. Pro-Western Armenian opposition in
turn will increase its efforts to mobilize people who share their
views," he said.
The expert believes that distrust of Moscow reigns among Armenian
people. "The country has not benefited from Russia in any way since
its independence," he said.
Oztarsu believes that Russia has not taken any step to benefit Armenia
so far. Armenia is blocked in the region and does not have the support
of its neighboring countries, he added. Azernews