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ARMENIAN UNEASE AT PLANNED RUSSIAN UNIVERSITY
Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
IWPR Caucasus Reporting #753
Sept 26 2014
Decision to open a branch of Moscow university seen as attempt to
strengthen Russia's hand in the country.
By Gayane Lazarian - Caucasus
Opposition politicians in Armenia have denounced the opening of a
branch of Moscow State University in Yerevan. They see it as part of
efforts by the Kremlin to further extend its reach in the country.
Government members welcomed the decision to open a local branch of
the university, one of the world's leading academic institutions.
Education and science minister Armen Ashotyan told a press
conference on August 25 how delighted he was that after four years
of negotiations, the university would open in Armenia while he was
still in office.
Moscow State University already has affiliates in Azerbaijan and
Kazakstan. As in those cases, the host government will cover the
running costs.
"We believe it's a justified investment," Ashotyan said.
Since 1997, Yerevan has also had the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic)
University, which comes under the education ministries of both
countries. Armenia has other international academic institutions
including American and French universities and the European Regional
Academy. In those cases, Armenian state involvement is limited to
funding some scholarships.
Armenia has a longstanding and close relationship with Russia. It hosts
Russian military bases and has handed over its natural gas distribution
network to energy giant Gazprom. (See Russian Energy Giant Captures
Armenian Market.) Last year, President Serzh Sargsyan abandoned
plans to sign an association agreement with the European Union and
announced that Armenia wanted instead to be part of the Moscow-led
Customs Union. (Armenia Faces Delay to Joining Moscow-Led Union.)
Some in Armenia are nervous of the ever-closer embrace of their huge
neighbour. Opponents of the new university see it as just another
way for the Kremlin to project political power.
The head of the Armenian Institute for International Affairs and
Security, political scientist Stepan Safaryan, sees the university
project as part of the process of incorporating Armenia into the
Customs Union, and beyond that the broader Eurasian Economic Union.
"It's all connected with Russian political aspirations to establish
control over Armenian statehood," he said, going on to contrast this
with the intentions of other states investing in education. "The
United States hasn't set itself the goal of getting its imperialist
claws into Armenia. At the American university, all they [students]
do is get a Western-standard education, for example so as to work
in an international organisation. But with Moscow State University,
the context is clear."
Anahit Bakhshyan, deputy director of the National Educational
Institute, which comes under the education ministry, does not accept
that any initiative of this kind is disinterested, but she says there
are still differences.
"Of course, the establishment of any foreign university has to be
connected to politics," she told IWPR. "The issue here is that the
US and France are stable democracies and are perfectly aware of how
far they can involve themselves in Armenia's domestic affairs. In
this case, though, the Russians are clearly exerting pressure."
While Safaryan is sure the Russian university will not be short of
applicants given its reputation, others are less sure of the academic
need for it.
Heghine Bisharyan, who leads the Country of Law party in parliament,
believes the decision to open a new institution should have only
been taken when the authorities had identified a need for the kind
of degree courses it will be offering.
"I'm not fundamentally against it, although I think it's possible it's
connected to Armenian accession to the Eurasian Economic Union," she
said. "What concerns me most is that student numbers are dropping from
year to year because of societal problems and emigration.... There
were communes [local government areas] in Armenia where schools
didn't produce a single graduate this year - and they are our future
students."
Zaruhi Postanjyan, a member of parliament from the opposition Heritage
party objects to the government having to fund the Russian university
branch, paying salaries and even covering staff's plane tickets to
and from Moscow.
"I'm against this university operating at a cost to our taxpayers,"
she said. "And what about fair competition? The teaching staff at
the American, French and Slavonic universities aren't paid from the
government budget. This is no more than the continuation of Russian
tsarist policies; it's one more manifestation of aggression. Of course
we have friendly ties with the Russian people, and let's not forget
the 2.5 million Armenians living in Russia, but this university branch
should function in a competitive market, just like the rest."
Margaret Yesayan, member of parliament with the ruling Republican
Party, said she personally was more of a Europhile, but the new
university should not be seen as an extension of Russian policy.
"Armenian policies are strong in Armenia," she said.
Ashotyan hit back at critics of the new institution, pointing out
that had been no outcry when the government decided to support
English-language studies at the American University.
"No one wrote, 'What are you doing? Why do we need English-language
education?' If it works, and a branch of Moscow State University
opens in Armenia, it will encourage competition in the system,"
the minister said.
Gayane Lazarian is a reporter for ArmeniaNow.com.
http://iwpr.net/report-news/armenian-unease-planned-russian-university
From: Baghdasarian
Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
IWPR Caucasus Reporting #753
Sept 26 2014
Decision to open a branch of Moscow university seen as attempt to
strengthen Russia's hand in the country.
By Gayane Lazarian - Caucasus
Opposition politicians in Armenia have denounced the opening of a
branch of Moscow State University in Yerevan. They see it as part of
efforts by the Kremlin to further extend its reach in the country.
Government members welcomed the decision to open a local branch of
the university, one of the world's leading academic institutions.
Education and science minister Armen Ashotyan told a press
conference on August 25 how delighted he was that after four years
of negotiations, the university would open in Armenia while he was
still in office.
Moscow State University already has affiliates in Azerbaijan and
Kazakstan. As in those cases, the host government will cover the
running costs.
"We believe it's a justified investment," Ashotyan said.
Since 1997, Yerevan has also had the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic)
University, which comes under the education ministries of both
countries. Armenia has other international academic institutions
including American and French universities and the European Regional
Academy. In those cases, Armenian state involvement is limited to
funding some scholarships.
Armenia has a longstanding and close relationship with Russia. It hosts
Russian military bases and has handed over its natural gas distribution
network to energy giant Gazprom. (See Russian Energy Giant Captures
Armenian Market.) Last year, President Serzh Sargsyan abandoned
plans to sign an association agreement with the European Union and
announced that Armenia wanted instead to be part of the Moscow-led
Customs Union. (Armenia Faces Delay to Joining Moscow-Led Union.)
Some in Armenia are nervous of the ever-closer embrace of their huge
neighbour. Opponents of the new university see it as just another
way for the Kremlin to project political power.
The head of the Armenian Institute for International Affairs and
Security, political scientist Stepan Safaryan, sees the university
project as part of the process of incorporating Armenia into the
Customs Union, and beyond that the broader Eurasian Economic Union.
"It's all connected with Russian political aspirations to establish
control over Armenian statehood," he said, going on to contrast this
with the intentions of other states investing in education. "The
United States hasn't set itself the goal of getting its imperialist
claws into Armenia. At the American university, all they [students]
do is get a Western-standard education, for example so as to work
in an international organisation. But with Moscow State University,
the context is clear."
Anahit Bakhshyan, deputy director of the National Educational
Institute, which comes under the education ministry, does not accept
that any initiative of this kind is disinterested, but she says there
are still differences.
"Of course, the establishment of any foreign university has to be
connected to politics," she told IWPR. "The issue here is that the
US and France are stable democracies and are perfectly aware of how
far they can involve themselves in Armenia's domestic affairs. In
this case, though, the Russians are clearly exerting pressure."
While Safaryan is sure the Russian university will not be short of
applicants given its reputation, others are less sure of the academic
need for it.
Heghine Bisharyan, who leads the Country of Law party in parliament,
believes the decision to open a new institution should have only
been taken when the authorities had identified a need for the kind
of degree courses it will be offering.
"I'm not fundamentally against it, although I think it's possible it's
connected to Armenian accession to the Eurasian Economic Union," she
said. "What concerns me most is that student numbers are dropping from
year to year because of societal problems and emigration.... There
were communes [local government areas] in Armenia where schools
didn't produce a single graduate this year - and they are our future
students."
Zaruhi Postanjyan, a member of parliament from the opposition Heritage
party objects to the government having to fund the Russian university
branch, paying salaries and even covering staff's plane tickets to
and from Moscow.
"I'm against this university operating at a cost to our taxpayers,"
she said. "And what about fair competition? The teaching staff at
the American, French and Slavonic universities aren't paid from the
government budget. This is no more than the continuation of Russian
tsarist policies; it's one more manifestation of aggression. Of course
we have friendly ties with the Russian people, and let's not forget
the 2.5 million Armenians living in Russia, but this university branch
should function in a competitive market, just like the rest."
Margaret Yesayan, member of parliament with the ruling Republican
Party, said she personally was more of a Europhile, but the new
university should not be seen as an extension of Russian policy.
"Armenian policies are strong in Armenia," she said.
Ashotyan hit back at critics of the new institution, pointing out
that had been no outcry when the government decided to support
English-language studies at the American University.
"No one wrote, 'What are you doing? Why do we need English-language
education?' If it works, and a branch of Moscow State University
opens in Armenia, it will encourage competition in the system,"
the minister said.
Gayane Lazarian is a reporter for ArmeniaNow.com.
http://iwpr.net/report-news/armenian-unease-planned-russian-university
From: Baghdasarian