TRICOLOR UNDER RUSSIAN BOOT
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am News
17:03:29 – 19/09/2011
In Armenia, the society, and especially the part of the society which
is engaged in civil activities, is dissatisfied with the fact that the
Russian border troops will march in the military parade dedicated to
the 20th anniversary of independence of Armenia under the Russian flag.
In fact, it is something to complain about when the military parade
dedicated to the independence of Armenia is concerned. But on the
other hand, it is the logical consequence of the circumstances which
led to this situation, and if these circumstances are not fought and
protested systematically and consistently, they will gradually become
more striking and will hurt our national dignity in those who still
cherish it.
The point is that year after year, consistently, the independence
of Armenia was handed over to Russia, and there did not seem to be
serious social opposing, dissatisfaction. Under the silent agreement
of the society, the strategic capacities of Armenia, the energy system
were handed over to Russia. Armenia gradually fell under the Russian
dominance without encountering social protest, political protest goes
without saying.
Only recently has it become visible how a considerable part displaying
civil activity tries to oppose to the russification, which is,
unfortunately, already in the last stage. But again, there is no word
about political protest. The so-called main opposition of the country,
the Armenian National Congress, obviously avoids the Russian topic,
let alone that the Congress leader has hinted in his public speeches
about loyalty which hardly differs from the government loyalty.
The other opposition forces which are relatively active, the Heritage
Party and the ARF Dashnaktsutyun, sometimes do complain, the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun even held a piquet in front of the Russian embassy,
while some Heritage activists criticize the current status of the
Armenian and Russian relations. However, there does not seem to be
reason to consider a systemic political struggle.
Armenia does not have a political pole or wing which would come up with
a criticism of the Armenian and Russian relationship with a clear and
conceptual position, not only accusing the Armenian government but
also accusing Russia for shaping destructive economic and political
processes and a destructive social and civil environment in Armenia.
The key political forces of Armenia do not dare to set clear political
demands before Russia, evidence to which is that despite a lot of
reasons, no political force of Armenia has officially organized an
action in front of the Russian embassy. At best, they were done on
behalf of youth organizations.
Meanwhile, the government for which this environment is quite useful,
describes every effort of civil groups to brought up the issue of the
Armenian-Russian relationship and the destructive role of Russia in
the life of Armenia as anti-Russian.
In reality, however, it is the same fairy tale as the criticism of
the problems of the army and other spheres of life, and having no
objective counterargument, the government refers to the theory of
bringing grist to the enemy’s mill.
Similarly, an effort is made to interpret any remark against the
Russian politics as anti-Russian. Meanwhile, this is a clear example
of misinterpretation of notions. Nobody is against the Russian and
Armenian relationship. Moreover, nobody is so stupid as to understand
that Armenia cannot afford to have a bad relationship with Armenia.
However, good relationship is one thing, and the present
Armenian-Russian relationship is another thing. It is not a good
relationship, it is either Armenian masochism or Russian rape. In good
relations, countries mutually respect each other’s interests. In the
case of Armenia and Russia, there is no mutuality, while for Russia
the Armenian interest is something which can be used to step on to
mount. In other words, the Armenian interest is a stool for the Russian
politics which stands on it from time to time to reach the upper shelf.
This is not a good relationship, this is deception. And the problem is
not that Armenia must stop relationship with Russia. Armenia must stop
deception with Russia and establish a relationship which is worth an
independent and sovereign country which knows how to respect its own
interests and knows that any country in the world, including Russia,
respects those who respect their own interests.
From: A. Papazian
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments23413.html