PRO-RUSSIAN FORCES HAVE VERY LITTLE TIME
Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview - 13 October 2014, 14:02
Armenia's membership to the Eurasian Economic Union seems to be
coming true. What dangers do you see and where is Armenia, is there
a revolutionary situation?
We have talked a lot about the external threat of the Eurasian Economic
Union, particularly the economic threat determined by international
sanctions and gradual decline of Russia's economy and Russia's imperial
ambitions but now it is already obvious that the Eurasian Economic
Union is causing instability at the border and affects the domestic
situation in Armenia.
We can see domestic tension in Armenia, and this tension is not
revolution. Revolution is an intention to replace one system
with another. Revolution, whether for a good or bad target, is a
fundamental change. In other words, we assume that we should have
a fundamental change, replacing membership to the Eurasian Economic
Union by European bias, monopolies with public economy, corruption
risk reduction etc but we cannot see it. Instead we understand that
we are rotating around the same vicious politics where actors change
with slight ups and downs but the hookups of destructive ideas that
have led Armenia to this self-defeating state are not changing.
Do you think October 10 will be the demarcation line that the recent
rally referred to?
Why a demarcation line? I think the line of demarcation is between the
fairly dissatisfied society and the group that has usurped power. We
have a society that does not have access to economic, legal, state
resources and therefore emigrates from the country or expresses its
fair protest. This is one thing. But when the situation is used
in groups that share economic resources, it is not a fundamental
situation, I think. It is just abuse of the power and dissatisfaction
of the society for the sake of some internal goals.
Will there be calls for change of government?
There will be calls for change of government because, as everywhere
else, I determine it by membership to the Eurasian Economic Union. You
understand that the economic loop is tightening around the countries
that are within Russia's domain. In other words, these people do not
have an opportunity for free trade, international assistance, which
it highly important. These people are used to using huge resources,
and now there is a shortage of resources and fight for resources is
starting. Therefore, I think, this is political escalation determined
by membership to the Eurasian Economic Union. They are counting time,
months if not days before influence of the Eurasian Economic Union,
namely Russia, and are racing for leadership within the pro-Russian
circle.
And in your opinion, what will the future of the Eurasian Economic
Union be?
The Eurasian Economic Union will collapse. I think the present leader
of Russia couldn't have made a more thoughtless thing. Although,
he is also desperate. He has understood that bad administration of
his country he is implementing with monarchal powers has led the
country to an economic and military collapse. Russia is not capable
of implementing its political, military interests, ensure the security
of any country, including its own.
We see the non-governmental forces silence foreign policy, if not
encourage membership to the Eurasian Union. The Heritage is an
exception which has assumed an incomprehensible position.
It seems to me that none of the political forces except Free Democrats
is speaking about the dangers and harms of membership to the Eurasian
Economic Union. Everyone is silent, modestly or immodestly, and there
is only one reason - people hope that Russia is going to donate power
in Armenia and are waiting for Russia to shift government using its
own levers. I repeat that even if it happens, it will last short
because Russia's political and economic influence is fading away,
it's almost gone, and this stage, no matter how favorable it may be
for some people, it will last too short and will have bad consequences
for Armenia.
You see the future of Armenia in European integration but the
pro-European forces are not getting together.
We do not need the pro-European forces to get together. We don't need
to use such terms as "pro-European", "pro-American" or "pro-Armenian".
All these terms cover the real essence of the problem. The society and
the state must be built so that a human is protected in the society
and the state, human rights, human life are protected, a human must
have a possibly civilized life. Christian states must give up on
authoritarian rule because authoritarian rule is not typical of
a Christian state. Therefore, we must understand that there is no
European sentiment, there is protection of the human. And in Armenia,
I think, people are still thinking that government matters, not law.
As soon as our society realizes that protection is not in having
power but in having rights, the society will not need to get together,
solidarity will occur automatically.
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/33090#sthash.qIyOPx9A.dpuf
Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview - 13 October 2014, 14:02
Armenia's membership to the Eurasian Economic Union seems to be
coming true. What dangers do you see and where is Armenia, is there
a revolutionary situation?
We have talked a lot about the external threat of the Eurasian Economic
Union, particularly the economic threat determined by international
sanctions and gradual decline of Russia's economy and Russia's imperial
ambitions but now it is already obvious that the Eurasian Economic
Union is causing instability at the border and affects the domestic
situation in Armenia.
We can see domestic tension in Armenia, and this tension is not
revolution. Revolution is an intention to replace one system
with another. Revolution, whether for a good or bad target, is a
fundamental change. In other words, we assume that we should have
a fundamental change, replacing membership to the Eurasian Economic
Union by European bias, monopolies with public economy, corruption
risk reduction etc but we cannot see it. Instead we understand that
we are rotating around the same vicious politics where actors change
with slight ups and downs but the hookups of destructive ideas that
have led Armenia to this self-defeating state are not changing.
Do you think October 10 will be the demarcation line that the recent
rally referred to?
Why a demarcation line? I think the line of demarcation is between the
fairly dissatisfied society and the group that has usurped power. We
have a society that does not have access to economic, legal, state
resources and therefore emigrates from the country or expresses its
fair protest. This is one thing. But when the situation is used
in groups that share economic resources, it is not a fundamental
situation, I think. It is just abuse of the power and dissatisfaction
of the society for the sake of some internal goals.
Will there be calls for change of government?
There will be calls for change of government because, as everywhere
else, I determine it by membership to the Eurasian Economic Union. You
understand that the economic loop is tightening around the countries
that are within Russia's domain. In other words, these people do not
have an opportunity for free trade, international assistance, which
it highly important. These people are used to using huge resources,
and now there is a shortage of resources and fight for resources is
starting. Therefore, I think, this is political escalation determined
by membership to the Eurasian Economic Union. They are counting time,
months if not days before influence of the Eurasian Economic Union,
namely Russia, and are racing for leadership within the pro-Russian
circle.
And in your opinion, what will the future of the Eurasian Economic
Union be?
The Eurasian Economic Union will collapse. I think the present leader
of Russia couldn't have made a more thoughtless thing. Although,
he is also desperate. He has understood that bad administration of
his country he is implementing with monarchal powers has led the
country to an economic and military collapse. Russia is not capable
of implementing its political, military interests, ensure the security
of any country, including its own.
We see the non-governmental forces silence foreign policy, if not
encourage membership to the Eurasian Union. The Heritage is an
exception which has assumed an incomprehensible position.
It seems to me that none of the political forces except Free Democrats
is speaking about the dangers and harms of membership to the Eurasian
Economic Union. Everyone is silent, modestly or immodestly, and there
is only one reason - people hope that Russia is going to donate power
in Armenia and are waiting for Russia to shift government using its
own levers. I repeat that even if it happens, it will last short
because Russia's political and economic influence is fading away,
it's almost gone, and this stage, no matter how favorable it may be
for some people, it will last too short and will have bad consequences
for Armenia.
You see the future of Armenia in European integration but the
pro-European forces are not getting together.
We do not need the pro-European forces to get together. We don't need
to use such terms as "pro-European", "pro-American" or "pro-Armenian".
All these terms cover the real essence of the problem. The society and
the state must be built so that a human is protected in the society
and the state, human rights, human life are protected, a human must
have a possibly civilized life. Christian states must give up on
authoritarian rule because authoritarian rule is not typical of
a Christian state. Therefore, we must understand that there is no
European sentiment, there is protection of the human. And in Armenia,
I think, people are still thinking that government matters, not law.
As soon as our society realizes that protection is not in having
power but in having rights, the society will not need to get together,
solidarity will occur automatically.
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/33090#sthash.qIyOPx9A.dpuf