Armenia, Russia must have common border - October, 2010

Since Russian Federation President Demitri Medvedev's historic visit to Armenia last month, during which a series of long-term strategic agreements were signed between Yerevan and Moscow, many of our Armenia's Western operatives have essentially been forced to come out of their hiding and expose themselves for who they really are. As a result, I would venture to say that recent comments made by Russian officials regarding Armenia are a calculated counterstrike. "I hope Armenia and Russia will some day have a common border" was a curious comment made by a Russian official recently. The official in question, who happens to be of Armenian decent, also called for another Russian military base in Armenia. I don't know about another Russian base in Armenia (although it wouldn't hurt), but having a border with Russia is certainly very desirable for Armenians. Most probably, something to this effect is already being worked on by Moscow, if only as a contingency plan.

Had Armenians been politically sophisticated or mature, they would have temporarily shelved their "Western Armenia" urges and began thinking about extending Armenia's borders towards Russia via Azerbaijan or towards the Black Sea via Georgia. Despite our best efforts to revitalize the ailing economy of our republic, as long as Armenia remains a small and landlocked nation in a geopolitical neighborhood like the Caucasus, it will continue to remain economically depressed and politically isolated. Armenia simply needs to break out of its present borders if it is to become a prosperous and powerful nation. Sentiments do not guide my political thoughts or inclinations, nor do ethics for that matter. I am speaking in real political and economic terms. In the big picture, having a common border with Russia or a direct access to the Black Sea is not only more economically and geopolitically favorable to Armenia than extending into Turkey's most impoverished eastern regions - but it is also more attainable/doable.

Too many Armenians live for today. We Armenians need to be a bit more politically mature and farsighted. Armenians today need to treat Armenia as they would a delicate seed full of potential. This seed first needs to be carefully sown and then it needs to be given a lot nurturing and time in order for it to grow and blossom. Nonetheless, Armenia, as it currently exists, is going no where ultimately because the seed is not yet on fertile ground. Even with the best of domestic circumstances, even if our despised oligarchs turn into lovable angels overnight, Armenia will continue to remain poor and embattled simply due to its geographic positioning and its less-than friendly neighbors. In many respects, the key to our national success in the Caucasus is found in the offices of the Kremlin. Instead of the constant complaints and fear mongering over Russia's growing influence in the Caucasus, Armenians would do well to embark on a pan-national/collective effort, similar to what Jews do in the West, to promote Armenia's national interests within the halls of the Kremlin. After all, is the sharp/cunning Armenian mind only reserved to be used against other Armenians?

The bottom line for Armenia is this: the only way we will be able to bring prosperity to Armenia is by bringing peace and stability to the Caucasus region. The only way we can bring peace and stability to the region is by having Moscow win the "great game" in the Caucasus. So, let us all pray for Pax Russica and let us all look forward to that glorious day when Armenia will share borders with Russia.

Arevordi

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Armenia, Russia must have common border

“I hope Armenia and Russia will some day have a common border,” Semyen Bagdasarov, a member of the Committee on International Affairs, RF State Duma, stated during the Armenian-Russian Relations spacebridge. To substantiate his view, he said that Armenia is Russia’s only ally in the region, while Georgia continues its “hostile policy toward national and religious minorities.” “If Georgia continues its policy, why not think of creating an Abkhazia-Poti-Ajaria-Javakheti corridor? The USA would have done it long ago, but we are modest. I think time will put an end to this modesty,” Bagdasarov said.

Source: http://news.am/eng/news/32930.html

Russia Needs Second Base in Armenia

With Russian-Armenian partnership being so close, Russia should deploy a second, military base in Armenia, with assault military equipment and relevant purposes, Semyen Bagdasarov, a member of the Committee on International Affairs, RF State Duma, stated during the Armenian-Russian Relations spacebridge. According to him, one Russian defensive military base in Armenia is incapable to meet the two nations’ real needs. A second base would be a deterrent factor for both Turkey and the U.S. “An explosive situation was developing round Nagorno-Karabakh before the protocol on longer-term Russian military presence in Armenia was signed – Azerbaijan was enhancing its military potential for the purpose of using its for resuming hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh,” the Russian parliamentarian said. He welcomes the fact that Armenia is the only post-Soviet state with only Russian military presence in its territory.

Russia attaches high importance to the South Caucasus, as it borders on the North Caucasus. “Armenia is a most important regional country for Russia at least due to the fact that NATO is opening a liaison office in Georgia, and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen arrived in Tbilisi on this occasion,” Bagdasarov said. Russia is an imperial state which must restore its global role, he said.

He believes Russia is not actually interested in Armenian-Turkish rapprochement. “It is a good thing that Armenian-Turkish protocols failed – they run counter to the interests of both Armenia and Russia,” the Russian parliamentarian said. Turkey has a great influence on two of the South Caucasus states – Georgia and Azerbaijan. Had Ankara established relations with Yerevan it would extend its influence over Armenia as well. “In this case, Turkey would force Russia out of Armenia and, therefore, of the entire South Caucasus. So it is great the Armenian-Turkish protocols failed,” Bagdasarov said.

Source: http://news.am/eng/news/32896.html

Armenia, Russia Should Create New Bloc, Expert Says

Armenia and Russia should create a new bilateral bloc, as an alternative to existing international organizations with two member states, Grigoriy Trofimchuk, Vice President of Strategic Development Modeling Center, said during Armenian-Russian Relations spacebridge. He considers that Russia and Armenia should jointly develop a single security strategy in the South Caucasus for other countries to adhere to it. “Armenia, except for Belarus, is the only country that remained loyal to Russia during post-Soviet period,” he added. Speaking of Russian base in Armenia, the expert noted that its presence is important for the regional states, including Georgia and Azerbaijan. It is unclear who will seize the region unless there is Russia’s presence, he noted. According to him, Turkey is also interested in Russia’s presence in the region. “Without Russia, the Black Sea would have turned into the American Sea long ago”, Trofimchuk stated.

Source: http://news.am/eng/news/32906.html

Without Armenia Russia May Lose South Caucasus: Analyst

An Armenian political analyst warned today that without Armenia Russia may lose the South Caucasus. Speaking at the fifth Conference on Problems of Security and Information Cooperation in South Caucasus , Alexander Iskanderian, director of the Yerevan -based Caucasian Media Institute (CMI) said if Russia loses Armenia or revises radically its Armenian policy it will have to depart from the South Caucasus. He said Armenia is interested in Russia because it is a crucial partner, a guarantor of its security. “It is not Russia’s physical presence in Armenia that matters most, it is the fact that Russia plays a special role in ensuring Armenia’s military security, in political risks and economy,’ he said, reminding that Russia is one of the largest investors in Armenian economy and many projects here requiring huge investments depend on Moscow. ‘If Russia did not exit Armenia would have quite a different position in the region, but in the current conditions there is nothing to replace their partnership,’ he said, adding that neither Georgia nor Russia would ever replace Armenia. He said if Russia wants to maintain its presence in the Caucuses that embraces also Iran and Turkey and stay in the format that is in place now it will have to follow its current policy for several years to come.’The three-day conference is organized by the Russia RIA Noviosti news agency and the administration of Armenian president.

Source: http://www.arka.am/eng/politics/2010/09/30/21673.html