SOVEREIGNTY IS NOTHING, DEVELOPMENT IS EVERYTHING
James Hakobyan
Lragir.am
21-08-2007 12:20:45
If the VivaCell company is sold to the Russian MTS, the likelihood of
which is reported in the media, although none of the parties confirms
the news, the Russian capital gets hold of the entire sphere of
communications and telecommunication of Armenia. As to what the Russian
capital now is, it is known to everyone who tracks the developments
in Russia. The Russian private capital is presently controlled by the
Kremlin. Consequently, the sphere of communication of Armenia will be
fully controlled by the Kremlin in case Viva Cell is sold. The ruling
elite of Armenia think it is quite normal. If we give the energy sector
to Russia, if we are going to give them the uranium and gold reserves,
the railways, why should we withhold communication? Certainly, some
people will state the strategic spheres cannot be given to the same
country. But please tell me why. What is wrong about it? Isn’t it
better to depend on one country and solve the problem of reproduction
before say the presidential or parliamentary election with one state
instead of traveling to Iraq, Brussels, God knows where else?
Moscow and that’s all, the question is solved.
We may say, in fact, that together with the issue of government the
issue of the state is solved, and it has reached the point when
it fully depends on Russia, but who said that everything is very
bad? Theoretically, it should not be ruled out that this policy may
eventually lead Armenia to some level of development. For instance,
part of building in Yerevan is thanks to Russian investments. The
origin of this money and the reason why it is invested in Armenia
which is at a deadlock is another question. However, the builders do
not care what money they are paid every month. They are happy that
they can earn their living. Or they say, for instance, that the new
Russian owners of Armentel have provided good conditions for the staff
of the company. The Russian management also improved the operation of
the Armenian nuclear plant, rehabilitating its financial state but it
should not be ruled out that the Russians sustain the nuclear plant
on artificial nourishment and as soon as they stop, the plant may
again face a financial crash. It is a fact, however, that there are
the Russians, and there is development, and the operation of Armenal
is evidence to it.
Certainly, there is also the problem of the factories handed over
to Russia in return for the debt which are not operated. However,
it takes time.
Certainly, very soon these companies will be operated, and Armenia
will become one of the leading countries in the region, and Azerbaijan
will have to steal the Kazakh oil from under the ground to keep up
with the rate of development of Armenia. Therefore, we should not stop
after handing over communications to the Russians but we should think
what else we can entrust them. For instance, sports. We can see what
Putinian Russia does. If we manage to hand over our sports to Russia
by 2014, no doubt the Armenian sportsmen will get most gold medals
in Sochi.