Arman Melikyan believes that the results of RF President’s visit to Azerbaijan will be visible in 2-3 months
– The tension in Armenia has been maintained throughout the summer, and, for a long time, war veterans drew protest actions, and organized various campaigns against rise in prices. However, the response of the authorities is somewhat negligent. The opposition, seems, did not display particular activeness. How can we explain these inadequate responses to the situation? What will be the consequence, an explosion, or just a regular disappointment, in what we have witnessed over the years? What do the authorities rely on?
– Social protests, during summer time, can be considered rather successful attempt in transferring overall dissatisfaction and frustration from the political sphere to the social sphere with regard to the last election phase. Owing to this, the citizen ‘speaks’ with the authorities through various activists, and this “dialogue” takes place without the involvement of other political forces. This “dialogue” of citizen-authority, on the one hand, shows that the authorities are willing to make concessions to the public, but not by the demand of political opponents, and thus makes supporting government’s political opponents for citizens senseless, on the other hand, the citizen itself is seemingly appreciated. Thus, the authorities can gain some time.
– There were various comments made regarding RF President’s visit to Azerbaijan. It was said that it was not the most successful one, contrary claims were also made. However, in the context of the visit, how do you view the future development of Armenian-Russian strategic relations?
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– We are witnessing a global geopolitical dynamics, resulting in changes in ruling elite of various countries, in reviewing the manner and content of inter-state relations, and in changes of state borders. Russians have’nt initiated these changes, they are forcedly reacting to the developments happened, often without realizing what is the idea of initiators of the events taken. In that sense, we are in the same situation and that is why we must be very watchful to be able to respond our shares of threats in timely and accurately. And, it is too early to speak about consequences and results of President Putin’s visit, they will appear at a later date, maybe two or three months later.
– Do you have fears that RA, however, will not sign the EU Association Agreement in November? Although, relevant officials recently made a number of statements in support of signing of the agreement, nevertheless, many politicians are still skeptical in the issue.
– I do not give much significance to the terms. Ultimately, one can not exclude the possibility that such events can happen in Armenia and in the region before that, which will be able to speed up or fail signing of the agreement, regardless of the desire of our administrators. A big fire has already started around us, and our task is not to allow it to harm us. As of today, signing-not signing makes sense to review only from that point of view.
– In your opinion, what steps can be possibly applied against Armenia that our country, up to the last moment, will refuse signing. And if, God forbid, it turned out that Armenia refuses to sign the EU Association Agreement, what perspective is expected to our country?
– In all cases, we should have one strategy, Armenia should come out of this experience of geopolitical transformations safe and powerful. Our existence has not started and will not end with this agreement. There was a time, when Sevres Covenant was also a promising document for us, but it did not work for us so far. I do not know by whom, and what guarantees are given to Armenia from outside, but inside, in all cases, we have to be strong, and, in this regard, the current administration staff has failed to record any positive results.
Interviewer, Nelly GRIGORYAN
