Tweet
THAT'S NOT A GOOD SIGN
Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview - 24 March 2015, 13:04
Interview with Gaidz Minassian, expert in French Center for Strategic Studies
A few days ago Serzh Sargsyan expressed his concerns about the sale of
Russian weapons to Azerbaijan which was followed by border tension. Do
you see a link between these two events?
Indirectly, there is a link, directly, I don't think so, because the
incidents at the border cannot be organized overnight, it would take
some time because the Azerbaijanis cannot be aware of the Armenian
president's agenda and statements beforehand. I don't think there
is a direct link. The Azerbaijanis are doing everything to spoil
relations between Russia and Armenia. They use every opportunity and
Russian weapons to cause issues between Russia and Armenia. This is
the reality.
How would you explain why Serzh Sargsyan had not been invited to
Astana to discuss issues relating to the Eurasian Economic Union with
other three member states? Don't they consider Armenia an EEU member
or maybe a lot of things have changed in the foreign policy of Armenia?
There are no important changes in the foreign policy of Armenia. I
am surprised that the Armenian president was not attending the Astana
summit of the EEU member states, and that's not a good sign. Armenia
has hardly joined this union and now it was not invited to the summit.
This question needs to be asked to the Armenian government. I think
Armenia is doing everything to have good relations with Russia and
the EU. In other words, the stronger the tension between Russia
and the EU, the worse it will be for Armenia, and the better these
relations, the better it will be for Armenia. At this moment, it is
not known whether Armenia will attend the Eastern Partnership summit
in Riga and whether the political part of the EU-Armenia Association
Agreement will be signed, considering that Armenia is mostly busy
with the preparations of the Centenary of the Genocide.
European officials attending the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in
Yerevan noted that Armenia which is already a member of the EEU should
suggest the extent to which it wants to cooperate with the EEU. Does
this mean that Europe has a softer approach and accepts the "both"
policy adopted by Armenia. Is it possible?
Armenia has already joined the EEU, and what we hear from the side
of Europe, we can hear that from Riga, Poland, as well as the head
of the EU Delegation to Armenia, does not mean that the leading
EU member states agree to the idea of signing a new agreement with
Armenia. Many people may express their opinions but the decisions are
made by Germany, France and the United Kingdom. If the key officials
of these countries announce that such an agreement must be signed with
Armenia, we will be sure that such an agreement will be signed. France
and Germany conduct a responsible policy on Russia but there are EU
member states, such as the Baltic States and Poland which conduct
a radical policy on Russia. These countries are afraid of Russia's
influence and they are doing everything to withdraw the ex-Soviet
states from Russian influence, and they use the opportunity to make
relevant statements.
In your opinion, does Armenia have a future in the EEU, considering
the problems facing Russia, as well as the reluctance of Kazakhstan
and Belarus to welcome Armenia to the EEU.
I would put this question with a different wording. Is there hope
that the EEU will survive as an organization. After the collapse
of the Soviet Union the Russians created another union which did
not achieve any results. Why would be believe that the EEU will be
established and have a future?
I don't believe that this union will have a free, quiet and positive
future. Surely, Belarus, Kazakhstan will do everything to retain their
sovereignty, and we don't know what Putin is going to do. Now they want
to have a common currency. Let's wait and see what they will achieve.
However, Armenia seems to be left out of this currency zone. What is
the reason?
I don't know, we need to ask the Armenian government whether Armenia
is dissatisfied with this union, whether Armenia can express its
dissatisfaction with not attending that summit. These questions must
be addressed to the Armenian government which has announced that
Armenia has nothing to do with the meeting in Astana. On the other
hand, there is nothing important there because Nalbandyan is so fond
of such meetings which do not produce any results for Armenia.
More importantly, very interesting things are happening in the region.
In particular, Serzh Sargsyan resists Russia, expecting new external
developments. Besides, Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey oil and gas
cooperation is considered, and it is interesting to see how Russia
will react to them.
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/33825
From: Baghdasarian
Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview - 24 March 2015, 13:04
Interview with Gaidz Minassian, expert in French Center for Strategic Studies
A few days ago Serzh Sargsyan expressed his concerns about the sale of
Russian weapons to Azerbaijan which was followed by border tension. Do
you see a link between these two events?
Indirectly, there is a link, directly, I don't think so, because the
incidents at the border cannot be organized overnight, it would take
some time because the Azerbaijanis cannot be aware of the Armenian
president's agenda and statements beforehand. I don't think there
is a direct link. The Azerbaijanis are doing everything to spoil
relations between Russia and Armenia. They use every opportunity and
Russian weapons to cause issues between Russia and Armenia. This is
the reality.
How would you explain why Serzh Sargsyan had not been invited to
Astana to discuss issues relating to the Eurasian Economic Union with
other three member states? Don't they consider Armenia an EEU member
or maybe a lot of things have changed in the foreign policy of Armenia?
There are no important changes in the foreign policy of Armenia. I
am surprised that the Armenian president was not attending the Astana
summit of the EEU member states, and that's not a good sign. Armenia
has hardly joined this union and now it was not invited to the summit.
This question needs to be asked to the Armenian government. I think
Armenia is doing everything to have good relations with Russia and
the EU. In other words, the stronger the tension between Russia
and the EU, the worse it will be for Armenia, and the better these
relations, the better it will be for Armenia. At this moment, it is
not known whether Armenia will attend the Eastern Partnership summit
in Riga and whether the political part of the EU-Armenia Association
Agreement will be signed, considering that Armenia is mostly busy
with the preparations of the Centenary of the Genocide.
European officials attending the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in
Yerevan noted that Armenia which is already a member of the EEU should
suggest the extent to which it wants to cooperate with the EEU. Does
this mean that Europe has a softer approach and accepts the "both"
policy adopted by Armenia. Is it possible?
Armenia has already joined the EEU, and what we hear from the side
of Europe, we can hear that from Riga, Poland, as well as the head
of the EU Delegation to Armenia, does not mean that the leading
EU member states agree to the idea of signing a new agreement with
Armenia. Many people may express their opinions but the decisions are
made by Germany, France and the United Kingdom. If the key officials
of these countries announce that such an agreement must be signed with
Armenia, we will be sure that such an agreement will be signed. France
and Germany conduct a responsible policy on Russia but there are EU
member states, such as the Baltic States and Poland which conduct
a radical policy on Russia. These countries are afraid of Russia's
influence and they are doing everything to withdraw the ex-Soviet
states from Russian influence, and they use the opportunity to make
relevant statements.
In your opinion, does Armenia have a future in the EEU, considering
the problems facing Russia, as well as the reluctance of Kazakhstan
and Belarus to welcome Armenia to the EEU.
I would put this question with a different wording. Is there hope
that the EEU will survive as an organization. After the collapse
of the Soviet Union the Russians created another union which did
not achieve any results. Why would be believe that the EEU will be
established and have a future?
I don't believe that this union will have a free, quiet and positive
future. Surely, Belarus, Kazakhstan will do everything to retain their
sovereignty, and we don't know what Putin is going to do. Now they want
to have a common currency. Let's wait and see what they will achieve.
However, Armenia seems to be left out of this currency zone. What is
the reason?
I don't know, we need to ask the Armenian government whether Armenia
is dissatisfied with this union, whether Armenia can express its
dissatisfaction with not attending that summit. These questions must
be addressed to the Armenian government which has announced that
Armenia has nothing to do with the meeting in Astana. On the other
hand, there is nothing important there because Nalbandyan is so fond
of such meetings which do not produce any results for Armenia.
More importantly, very interesting things are happening in the region.
In particular, Serzh Sargsyan resists Russia, expecting new external
developments. Besides, Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey oil and gas
cooperation is considered, and it is interesting to see how Russia
will react to them.
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/33825
From: Baghdasarian