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EaEU's "altyn" and Armenia's unvoiced "voice" at the EaEU
March 14 2015
The summit of the presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus was
scheduled to launch in Astana. According to the Kremlin's official
release, the parties intend to discuss prospects for the development
of trade between the three countries and the European integration
process, given influence of the modern trends on the world economy, as
well as mutual trade and the situation in Ukraine. On March 11,
however, it became clear that the tripartite meeting was postponed.
This information was confirmed by the Russian president's press
secretary Dmitry Peskov. "Indeed, the leaders of the three countries
decided to postpone the day of the summit in Astana for a few days,"
he said. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed to
sign the protocols of the agreement on Kyrgyzstan's accession to the
EaEU Agreement signed on December 23, 2014. Recently, Putin has made
another remarkable assignment. The Ministry of Finance of Russia and
the Government are assigned to jointly with the Central Banks of the
Eurasian Economic Union member states to elaborate until September 1
the further integration trends of the EaEU common currency and the
financial sectors with the perspective of development of feasibility
and possibility for creation of a monetary union. The experts were
periodically warning about such Eurasian "prospects". Still last year,
the Russian "Moskovsky Komsomolets", citing its source in the Eurasian
Economic Commission, stated that the EaEU will have its common
currency, and it will be called "altyn," emphasizing that the issue of
the common currency and its name has already unofficially been
approved by the presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus. The
source even mentioned that it is planned to establish a Eurasian
Central Bank with supranational powers. Today, Russia more than ever
pursues the goal to show its influence and its being "united" with the
former Soviet Union countries. And not just showing. Putin is
consistently moving ahead by restoring its influence from the Eastern
Europe to the Caucasus and Central Asia. All of this is accompanied by
the demarches against the West. For example, recently, Russian mass
media reported that Russia withdraws from the agreement on
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and ceased its attendance at the
Joint Consultative Group sittings of the Conventional Armed Forces
Treaty. Studies of the ideas of opportunities for creation of a
monetary union and further integration trends for the common currency
and the financial sectors in the EaEU are really infeasible so far,
under the conditions of the failed Union due to economic reasons. One
can only imagine what reaction Putin's this kind of intention will
cause to the leaders of Belarus and Kazakhstan, who do not miss any
opportunity to oppose the President of Russia and to protect their own
countries' interests. The theme of Armenia's non-attendance at the
Astana meeting has been discussed for these days. Official Yerevan
presented the Deputy Foreign Minister's Shavarsh Kocharyan's
clarification, which says that the Armenian side will not participate
in the forthcoming meeting of the three founding members of the
Eurasian Economic Union in Astana, because it does not have any
disagreements with those countries. "These three countries have mutual
problems that they do not hide, and they are trying to settle down
these disagreements between each other. We have no disagreement, we
are a new member of the EaEU and we do not have problems with any of
these countries in connection with the Eurasian Economic Union or
other," said Sh. Kocharyan in the interview with "Liberty". Followed
by the same logic, Armenian cannot attend the meetings in the
framework of CSTO and CIS, stating that it has no disagreements with
the member states. To the point, the official Yerevan's explanation is
controversial, because, on the one hand, it is stated that the EaEU
founding members have disagreements, but on the other hand, it is
noted that Armenia has no disagreement with these three "conflicting"
each other countries. From the outset, it was clear that Armenia would
not be a decision-making in this structure. Anyway, how can any
crucial summit, where serious problems are to be discussed and
probably decisions made is not related to Armenia? Or, these problems
and decisions will not refer to the future of Armenia? On the other
hand, however, it is positive to record the fact that no issues
regarding directly Armenia will be discussed in Astana. Armenia's
membership to this structure, in general, without common borders, was
unclear and at the same time evident that it is a result of a
political decision. Therefore, Armenia's participation in the EaEU
gatherings also as it is seen bears a purely political nature rather
than economic. When Armenia's "voice" becomes necessary, then Armenia
will attend these meetings of the EaEU format. In addition, several
well-known meetings held under the EaEU are singled out by
pro-Azerbaijani and controversial statements against Armenia. Recall
Nazarbayev's famous statement about Ilham Aliyev's letter. To the
point, this trend is maintained. Recently, Minsk hosted the
Belarus-Azerbaijan intergovernmental Economic Partnership Council
session. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko accepted Deputy Prime
Minister of Azerbaijan Yaqub Eyyubov prior to this Council session,
and as reported by the Belarusian "Belta" news agency, Lukashenko
announced that today Belarus is ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan in
all directions. "We trust you, your country, your government, and we
are ready to cooperate with you in all directions, so there are no
closed spheres," he said. Lukashenko called the attention to the fact
that Belarus and Azerbaijan have always successfully resolved all
issues raised and had mentioned that the volume of trade between the
two countries has increased for the past year. "The trade with
Azerbaijan is very profitable for us. We are ready to set up our
companies there, are interested in your investments here and will
provide absolute guarantees to you. " Alexander Lukashenko noted with
satisfaction that the production localization in a number of
industries is almost 50 percent. "It makes up 40 percent already, and
it is a very good level," said Lukashenko. "It means that you get the
technologies that we have promised to you, and especially that I have
promised to Ilham Aliyev, normal manufacturing facilities are
established on the territory of Azerbaijan." Belarus President
stressed that the promotion of joint products to third countries and
the Caucasus region is the next step and also thanked the Azerbaijani
side for support and assistance. "You have always met us halfway, have
always supported us. We will do the same for the fraternal nation of
Azerbaijan."
Emma GABRIELYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2015/03/14/169264/
March 14 2015
The summit of the presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus was
scheduled to launch in Astana. According to the Kremlin's official
release, the parties intend to discuss prospects for the development
of trade between the three countries and the European integration
process, given influence of the modern trends on the world economy, as
well as mutual trade and the situation in Ukraine. On March 11,
however, it became clear that the tripartite meeting was postponed.
This information was confirmed by the Russian president's press
secretary Dmitry Peskov. "Indeed, the leaders of the three countries
decided to postpone the day of the summit in Astana for a few days,"
he said. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed to
sign the protocols of the agreement on Kyrgyzstan's accession to the
EaEU Agreement signed on December 23, 2014. Recently, Putin has made
another remarkable assignment. The Ministry of Finance of Russia and
the Government are assigned to jointly with the Central Banks of the
Eurasian Economic Union member states to elaborate until September 1
the further integration trends of the EaEU common currency and the
financial sectors with the perspective of development of feasibility
and possibility for creation of a monetary union. The experts were
periodically warning about such Eurasian "prospects". Still last year,
the Russian "Moskovsky Komsomolets", citing its source in the Eurasian
Economic Commission, stated that the EaEU will have its common
currency, and it will be called "altyn," emphasizing that the issue of
the common currency and its name has already unofficially been
approved by the presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus. The
source even mentioned that it is planned to establish a Eurasian
Central Bank with supranational powers. Today, Russia more than ever
pursues the goal to show its influence and its being "united" with the
former Soviet Union countries. And not just showing. Putin is
consistently moving ahead by restoring its influence from the Eastern
Europe to the Caucasus and Central Asia. All of this is accompanied by
the demarches against the West. For example, recently, Russian mass
media reported that Russia withdraws from the agreement on
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and ceased its attendance at the
Joint Consultative Group sittings of the Conventional Armed Forces
Treaty. Studies of the ideas of opportunities for creation of a
monetary union and further integration trends for the common currency
and the financial sectors in the EaEU are really infeasible so far,
under the conditions of the failed Union due to economic reasons. One
can only imagine what reaction Putin's this kind of intention will
cause to the leaders of Belarus and Kazakhstan, who do not miss any
opportunity to oppose the President of Russia and to protect their own
countries' interests. The theme of Armenia's non-attendance at the
Astana meeting has been discussed for these days. Official Yerevan
presented the Deputy Foreign Minister's Shavarsh Kocharyan's
clarification, which says that the Armenian side will not participate
in the forthcoming meeting of the three founding members of the
Eurasian Economic Union in Astana, because it does not have any
disagreements with those countries. "These three countries have mutual
problems that they do not hide, and they are trying to settle down
these disagreements between each other. We have no disagreement, we
are a new member of the EaEU and we do not have problems with any of
these countries in connection with the Eurasian Economic Union or
other," said Sh. Kocharyan in the interview with "Liberty". Followed
by the same logic, Armenian cannot attend the meetings in the
framework of CSTO and CIS, stating that it has no disagreements with
the member states. To the point, the official Yerevan's explanation is
controversial, because, on the one hand, it is stated that the EaEU
founding members have disagreements, but on the other hand, it is
noted that Armenia has no disagreement with these three "conflicting"
each other countries. From the outset, it was clear that Armenia would
not be a decision-making in this structure. Anyway, how can any
crucial summit, where serious problems are to be discussed and
probably decisions made is not related to Armenia? Or, these problems
and decisions will not refer to the future of Armenia? On the other
hand, however, it is positive to record the fact that no issues
regarding directly Armenia will be discussed in Astana. Armenia's
membership to this structure, in general, without common borders, was
unclear and at the same time evident that it is a result of a
political decision. Therefore, Armenia's participation in the EaEU
gatherings also as it is seen bears a purely political nature rather
than economic. When Armenia's "voice" becomes necessary, then Armenia
will attend these meetings of the EaEU format. In addition, several
well-known meetings held under the EaEU are singled out by
pro-Azerbaijani and controversial statements against Armenia. Recall
Nazarbayev's famous statement about Ilham Aliyev's letter. To the
point, this trend is maintained. Recently, Minsk hosted the
Belarus-Azerbaijan intergovernmental Economic Partnership Council
session. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko accepted Deputy Prime
Minister of Azerbaijan Yaqub Eyyubov prior to this Council session,
and as reported by the Belarusian "Belta" news agency, Lukashenko
announced that today Belarus is ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan in
all directions. "We trust you, your country, your government, and we
are ready to cooperate with you in all directions, so there are no
closed spheres," he said. Lukashenko called the attention to the fact
that Belarus and Azerbaijan have always successfully resolved all
issues raised and had mentioned that the volume of trade between the
two countries has increased for the past year. "The trade with
Azerbaijan is very profitable for us. We are ready to set up our
companies there, are interested in your investments here and will
provide absolute guarantees to you. " Alexander Lukashenko noted with
satisfaction that the production localization in a number of
industries is almost 50 percent. "It makes up 40 percent already, and
it is a very good level," said Lukashenko. "It means that you get the
technologies that we have promised to you, and especially that I have
promised to Ilham Aliyev, normal manufacturing facilities are
established on the territory of Azerbaijan." Belarus President
stressed that the promotion of joint products to third countries and
the Caucasus region is the next step and also thanked the Azerbaijani
side for support and assistance. "You have always met us halfway, have
always supported us. We will do the same for the fraternal nation of
Azerbaijan."
Emma GABRIELYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2015/03/14/169264/