RUSSIA SUPPORTS REGRESSIVE AZERBAIJAN
August 27 2013
According to Ruben Mehrabyan, RF acts accordingly feeling that its
presence in the South Caucasus is under threat. – Mr. Mehrabyan,
the opposition political parties again have voiced calls to unite,
arguing that the authorities will not stay long at power. How
do you assess the position of the authorities and the opposition
at this stage? Do you see grounds for maturation of force-majeure
situations? – The only way out that can protect us from force-majeure
and tragic scenarios, is an open and public dialogue on a broad agenda,
including both internal and foreign policy, including the security
of vitally important issues. It must be focused on real, radical and
systemic reforms based on a broad social and political consensus,
with the conscious that we are all in one boat. And in the current
situation it is obvious that the initiator of such a dialogue must be
and should be just the authorities. I have no doubt that we are just
wasting our time, thereby dilapidating already significantly worn
out resources of our statehood, which is unacceptable. Thus, we will
lose our statehood. – Recently, in an interview with commonspace.eu,
the Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan said,- “The Customs
Union is an obstacle to signing of the Association Agreement.” In
your opinion, can the possible pressures of RF in the coming 2-3
months, result in RA authorities to refuse initialing? – I think
this is a belated confession that the so-called “customs union” is
an obstacle. It is not only an obstacle to the Association Agreement
with the EU, but also a threat to the Armenian statehood. And it
is belated, because otherwise it would not be introduced into
the circulation by the hands of Serge Sargsyan, the so-called
“and – and” meaningless concept, according to which, presumably,
it is possible to combine the integration with European Union with
Putin’s so-and-so projects based on neo-imperial “land collection”
concept. Of course, no. It is simply self-deception. Moreover, the
Association Agreement has no alternative for Armenia in civilization,
historical, strategic aspects. And the foreign policy should not be
mixed with the trade regime. Yes, Armenia should eventually sign the
Association Agreement with the European Union, becoming a part of the
common market of united Europe, having a free trade regime with the
market having half a billion solvent consumer, which is currently our
main trading partner. And it does not mean hostility with Russia or
disruption of economic ties. Armenia and Russia are full members of
the World Trade Organization and, accordingly, assumed international
obligations, under which it is totally possible to form new, civilized
format of relations with a Russia. But, for this reason, Armenia’s
diplomacy should not follow the events in the status of an observer,
be engaged in copying scared euphemism rather than clearly formulate
our national interests, and actively pursue it. In the coming 2-3
months, everything is expected from Russia. Yes, initialing by
Armenia is not to the benefit of Russia. Although, recently Russian
circles are trying to convince us that Armenia is not longed to be
seen in the Customs Union, that there have not been or are or will
be pressures on Armenia, but we should keep displaying vigilance,
not to yield to temptations, nor threats.
Our nearly 200-year-old path with Russia should prompt us that we are
expected to have both a “soap” under our feet, and “shootings from
behind the back” or activation of the agent network at the most crucial
moment. I want to believe that our Lord will be favorable to us and
those efforts will be in vain, and we will make our own already decided
civilized option a reality. – The RF Customs Service has suspended
all Ukrainian exports, which is estimated as a political decision by
the RF, due to the fact that Ukraine is resisting, not willing to join
the Customs Union and the Eurasian alliance. What does the commercial
war by the RF show, how can this battle of nerves end for Russia? –
Evidently, this is a political campaign unleashed by Russia, a complex
punitive action aimed at ruining economic fundamentals of Ukraine, why
not, also destabilization of political situation in order to obstacle
the signing of the Association Agreement by creating insurmountable
obstacles. I am sure that this “senseless and merciless” step of
Kremlin, according to Pushkin, will speed up the process of Ukraine to
the west, about which there is a consensus between the authorities,
the opposition and the public. And Ukraine will sign an Association
Agreement in Vilnius. And all of this will end for Russia over the
fact that it will reconcile with the idea that it is not possible to
degrade and kneel down an independent state of 45 million population,
which has decided to become an integral and deserved part of the
civilized world. I am also sure that this will essentially change the
geopolitics of the post-Soviet territory by bankrupting Putin’s entire
foreign policy strategy, as any imperial or neo-imperial project may
not be viable without Ukraine. I do not rule out that after Vilnius,
a destabilized circle will begin in Russia, because the history shows
that the internal discontents in the country on the background of
foreign policy failures can reach the peak. The Ukrainian “loss”
can be very painful for the Russian society. – Recently, the RF
President Vladimir Putin’s working visit to Azerbaijan was held. Do
the Russian-Azerbaijani relations in economic, energy and military
sectors threaten Armenia as the RF “strategic” partner interests, in
general, and in particular, in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, because
there is a belief that NKR issue, however, is not one of priority
issues for Putin. – Armenia’s main threat, here, is the fact that over
the past century Russia for the fourth time feeling that its presence
in the South Caucasus is under threat, uses the same scheme: supports
regressive Azerbaijan or the most regressive and prejudiced segments
of Azerbaijani society, encouraging their Armenophobia and directing
against Armenia and Armenians wishing to rend from the empire. So
happened in 1905, 1917-18, 1988-91. I hope Azerbaijan also knows that
this kind of imperial combination has led to a disaster in the region,
and it does not only promise good thing to Azerbaijan, but it is no
less a threat for Azerbaijan. In addition, the current situation does
not allow Russia to freely dispose the Karabakh factor in advancing
its interests. Russia is just one of the three co-chair countries. But
this cynical deal, of course, will complicate the Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement process that it will more detach Azerbaijan from reality,
will toughen its position, but essentially will not change the status
quo in the region. The transaction had a positive effect, as well. The
last illusion dispersed in Armenia towards guarantees of the “big
brother”. It is difficult to formulate better than Mr. Dugin. Russia
is solely for its benefit in the Caucasus, neither for Armenia nor for
Azerbaijan. Therefore, Armenia can no longer afford the “luxury” as
“friends forever” or “eternal enemies”, but should be satisfied with
“only” its eternal interests.
Emma GABRIELYAN
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