It seemed that September 3 has introduced a clarity in the Armenia-Russia relations
Recently, Serzh Sargsyan’s 2 public texts contained remarkable messages that are worthy of consideration.
On September 21, on the occasion of Independence Day, there was such a passage in Serzh Sargsyan’s congratulatory message: “Independence is an objective and daily routine at the same time. It has to be conquered every day through living, adopting decisions and implementing them as free citizens of independent Armenia. We are living in a free country, and can discuss anything we want to. One thing, however, is unalterable under any circumstance: the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia.”
As we know, recently Serzh Sargsyan has participated in the CSTO council session in Sochi, where he made a speech among the narrow format meeting of heads of CSTO member states, he spoke about the effectiveness and authority of the organization. S. Sargsyan had reminded that the CSTO documents, including the Moscow Declaration adopted in December last year, underlined the importance of settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, and based on the UN Charter, norms and principles of the international law, which inter alia, refer to non-use of force or intimidation of force, equality of peoples and self-determination and territorial integrity. “However, in contrast to our own adopted decisions, some Member States, within other platforms and other organizations, adopt statements related to the same issue, which are disharmonious with the decisions adopted within CSTO.
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In recent years, documents have been adopted, including on the presidential level, where presented by the Azerbaijani side, selectively, to the detriment of the other principles, the principle of territorial integrity is distinguished. Indeed, many countries have their own interests with Azerbaijan. But we can not agree in any way when these relationships lead to adoption of such documents, which are aimed at the interests of the CSTO member states and, in general, against the organization’s reputation,”- said Serzh Sargsyan.
CSTO member states Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan and Tadzhikistan are members of “Islam Conference” organization, and this organization in its adopted Declaration emphasizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and supports Baku’s position in the Karabakh settlement. Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan are also members of Union of Turkic states, the same policy is also held here. But the problem is not only Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, and Tadzhikistan. It is already known that in the last two or three years, Russia has sold four billion dollars offensive weapon to Azerbaijan. Serzh Sargsyan, of course, did not say anything in Sochi. But the target of the main message of Serzh Sargsyan’s speech is directed not only to Kazakhstan, Kirghizia and Tajikistan, but also Russia. In addition, at the CSTO meetings, the fact of raising the issue of efficiency and reputation of CSTO activities is remarkable. In fact, it is also noteworthy that although after Sargsyan-Putin negotiations on September 3 in Moscow, Serzh Sargsyan announced that Armenia is intended to join the Customs Union, however, Sargsyan-Putin separate meeting was not held in Sochi. This, perhaps, shows that the tensions and mistrust in the Armenian-Russian relations still preserves.
S. President has met with the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. The latter noted that Belarus is ready to support Armenia to rapidly join the Customs Union, and will help that all processes come to an end in a very short period of time, and S. Sargsyan has added, “The intentions of the Armenian side in this matter is very serious. We will not change our minds, because we have accepted this decision.”
Speaking about Armenia’s intention to join the Customs Union, it is clear that Serzh Sargsyan should attempt to reckon with the public mood and, some work should be carried out regarding the advocacy. The formulation of the congratulatory message made on September 21 on the occasion of Independence Day “we can discuss anything we want to”, except for the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia, has its recipients, it is directed to both the concerns and complaints available inside the country and Russia and the West.
Equally important was Serzh Sargsyan’s speech about the conflict in Syria, where speaking about many thousands of community in Syria, he welcomed the Russian-American agreements on the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Syria.
However, it seemed that September 3 has introduced a clarity in the Armenian-Russian relations with regard to priorities in Armenia’s foreign policy, however, as it appears, it is only illusory. Something, however, is not clear in the Armenia-Russia relations.
Emma GABRIELYAN
