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Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Jan 17 2015
Gyumri Lessons
17 January 2015 - 7:05pm
The recent events in Armenia have exposed the tensions between Russia
and Armenia, in spite of officially proclaimed strategic level of
partnership between two countries and Erevan's joining of the
Eurasian Union. Demonstrations with requirement for fair treatment of
the killing in Gyumri grew into the protests against Russian
military presence on the territory of Armenia. Armenian leadership
does participate in number of Russian projects, but the population of
the country, being dissatisfied with the authorities, transfers the
anger to Russia.
Securing of Russian foreign policy interests requires shifting of
attention to the cooperation with the civil society, and not only with
the leadership. Deep and real reasons of the unrest in Armenia is an
economic and a political crisis in the republic. This crisis,
generated by an unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the economic
blockade of Armenia, will continue to provoke discontent among the
citizens of the republic.
Similar opinion has been expressed in an interview to "Vestnik
Kavkaza" by political analysts Mikhail Remizov and Alexander Karavaev.
"Kremlin is speaking and taking into account only those, who are
currently at the power", as it has doubts that working with opposition
will bring the same influence as working with the authorities in
power. Till today the politics of Russia towards Armenia has been
based on the expectation of guaranteed information on further changes
in the ruling elite. This information is gathered as the result of
working with the current authorities - said Alexander Karavaev.
Mikhail Remizov emphasized the necessity to change the paradigm of
Russian foreign policy - it is obvious that Russia needs to diversify
its political contacts and build wide spectrum of relationships with
different social and political forces. Strategic task is to to build
relationships with the society.
The experts have expressed opinion that Russia's military withdrawal
for Armenian territory is not likely to happen, since it is highly
significant and needed for Armenia. It is worthy to remember here the
example of American military presence in Japan after WWII, when in
spite of number of crimes committed by American soldiers, the military
presence are still there - noticed Remizov.
Karavaev expressed the opinion that it is hardly possible to avoid
such incidents in the situation of military presence of one country at
the territory of another. Also, according to the expert, Russian
Ministry of Defense needs to transfer its foreign military bases to
contractors entirely, but also work on the discipline in the army.
At the same time it is highly important to have just investigation of
the committed crimes. "The reaction of the Armenian society to this
murder is natural, since the society is very close, with a strong
sense of ethnic solidarity, so in the case, when Armenians is being
killed by a non-Armenian, is being perceived as ethnically tinged
violence" - said Remizov.
The experts Remizov says there are several factors that that guarantee
inter-allied relationship between Armenia and Russia, including
economic, geo-strategic and military considerations, the presence of a
considerable Armenian diaspora in Russia and Armenia's foreign
environment.
At the same time Karavaev thinks Armania's rejection of union with
Russia is still possible under the condition of open weakening of
Russia's position in the South Caucasus and a very serious problems
in Russia's economy. But as long as Russia's military presence on
Armenian territory lasts for several decades by now, it is
questionable if Russian influence on the bilateral relationship may
vanish so easily.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/society/64831.html
Jan 17 2015
Gyumri Lessons
17 January 2015 - 7:05pm
The recent events in Armenia have exposed the tensions between Russia
and Armenia, in spite of officially proclaimed strategic level of
partnership between two countries and Erevan's joining of the
Eurasian Union. Demonstrations with requirement for fair treatment of
the killing in Gyumri grew into the protests against Russian
military presence on the territory of Armenia. Armenian leadership
does participate in number of Russian projects, but the population of
the country, being dissatisfied with the authorities, transfers the
anger to Russia.
Securing of Russian foreign policy interests requires shifting of
attention to the cooperation with the civil society, and not only with
the leadership. Deep and real reasons of the unrest in Armenia is an
economic and a political crisis in the republic. This crisis,
generated by an unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the economic
blockade of Armenia, will continue to provoke discontent among the
citizens of the republic.
Similar opinion has been expressed in an interview to "Vestnik
Kavkaza" by political analysts Mikhail Remizov and Alexander Karavaev.
"Kremlin is speaking and taking into account only those, who are
currently at the power", as it has doubts that working with opposition
will bring the same influence as working with the authorities in
power. Till today the politics of Russia towards Armenia has been
based on the expectation of guaranteed information on further changes
in the ruling elite. This information is gathered as the result of
working with the current authorities - said Alexander Karavaev.
Mikhail Remizov emphasized the necessity to change the paradigm of
Russian foreign policy - it is obvious that Russia needs to diversify
its political contacts and build wide spectrum of relationships with
different social and political forces. Strategic task is to to build
relationships with the society.
The experts have expressed opinion that Russia's military withdrawal
for Armenian territory is not likely to happen, since it is highly
significant and needed for Armenia. It is worthy to remember here the
example of American military presence in Japan after WWII, when in
spite of number of crimes committed by American soldiers, the military
presence are still there - noticed Remizov.
Karavaev expressed the opinion that it is hardly possible to avoid
such incidents in the situation of military presence of one country at
the territory of another. Also, according to the expert, Russian
Ministry of Defense needs to transfer its foreign military bases to
contractors entirely, but also work on the discipline in the army.
At the same time it is highly important to have just investigation of
the committed crimes. "The reaction of the Armenian society to this
murder is natural, since the society is very close, with a strong
sense of ethnic solidarity, so in the case, when Armenians is being
killed by a non-Armenian, is being perceived as ethnically tinged
violence" - said Remizov.
The experts Remizov says there are several factors that that guarantee
inter-allied relationship between Armenia and Russia, including
economic, geo-strategic and military considerations, the presence of a
considerable Armenian diaspora in Russia and Armenia's foreign
environment.
At the same time Karavaev thinks Armania's rejection of union with
Russia is still possible under the condition of open weakening of
Russia's position in the South Caucasus and a very serious problems
in Russia's economy. But as long as Russia's military presence on
Armenian territory lasts for several decades by now, it is
questionable if Russian influence on the bilateral relationship may
vanish so easily.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/society/64831.html