Sociological survey: Russia’s positions consolidate in Armenia

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Feb 15 2007

SOCIOLOGICAL SURVEY: RUSSIA’S POSITIONS CONSOLIDATE IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, February 15. /ARKA/. According to the sociological survey
25% of Russians believe that Russia’s positions consolidate in
Armenia. The All-Russia Center for the Study of Public Opinion
(VTSIOM) conducted the poll on February 3-4 aiming to inquire
Russians about the situation in the countries of the previous USSR.
22% respondents believe that Russia gives up its positions in
Armenia, 32% estimated them as unchanged, 20% found it difficult to
answer.
24% respondents believe that Russia’s positions consolidate in
Azerbaijan, 32% estimated them as unchanged, 21% found it difficult
to answer.
The record-breaking number of respondents – 70% said that it gives up
its positions in Georgia, 9% noticed consolidation, 10% said that
they remain the same, 11% found it difficult to answer.
52% respondents observed weakening of Russia’s positions in Belarus,
20% believe that they consolidate, 15% – they remain the same, 13%
found it difficult to answer.
Russia’s positions in Kazakhstan are consolidating (39%), are
weakening (15%), they remain the same (30%), 16% found it difficult
to answer.
The answers to the question, "What do you think, Russia’s positions
in the countries of the previous USSR consolidate or weaken?" were
the following: more likely they consolidate – 34%, more likely they
weaken – 44%, 22% found it difficult to answer.
Those who believe that Russia’s positions consolidate – 33% – connect
it with Russia’s foreign policy, 25% – with Russia’s economic
resources, 14% – with economic difficulties in the previous USSR
countries, 14% – with Russia’s stronger interest in cooperation with
the post-Soviet countries, 4% – with the weakening of the influence
of the USA and other Western countries on the post-Soviet
territories. At last, 9% of the respondents who observe Russia’s
consolidation find it difficult to determine what the reason is.
1.6ths respondents from Russia’s 46 regions and 153 populated areas
participated in the survey. L.M. -0–