This is assumed by Director of the Institute of CIS countries, Konstantin Zatulin.
Yesterday, the Armenian-Russian economic forum was held at the State Drama Theater of Gyumri after Vardan Achemyan, during which the political scientist Konstantin Zatulin, answering the question of journalists of what the Customs Union would give to Armenia, said that the price of gas supplied to our country would drop.
“As I understand, the negotiation on dropping the gas price are currently underway, I think, we will have positive results, the price of gas supplied to Armenia would be defined as much as for other Customs Union membership countries. Do you know that Russia is supplying gas to Belarus, Kazakhstan has its own gas, we supply gas to Belarus by the same price, a price, which is not expensive, plus the transportation? I think it would be the same for Armenia. This is the direct answer to your question of what the Customs Union gives to Armenia. I would not be fair, if I would not mention the fact that we are in the same military-political union with Armenia, collective security, and I understand that it is not the same for Armenia whether Russia would cooperate with Armenia in the military sphere, or not,” said the political scientist. According to him, the document, which is hung around Ukraine, Armenia and other’s neck, the matter there is not only about the economic cooperation, but also the military, defense and security issues. However, according to Russian political scientist, it is not possible to simultaneously cooperate with one and the other party regarding the security issue. The political scientist considered Armenia’s choice correct, noting that Armenia made this step, when it realized that they are trying to lure it into the trap. “At this moment, I am talking about the Eastern Partnership, which was held in Vilnius. The program was originally based on thesis of luring into the trap to entrap maximum number of countries from CIS countries undermining the cooperation in the former Soviet territory,” said Konstantin Zatulin.
According to Russian political scientist, Armenia has a lot of needs, its economy is still in the blockade of Turkey and Azerbaijan, and it needs imperative investments, implementation of economic projects and support. Mr. Zatulin also referred to the events in Ukraine, noting that it is a residual reaction, a boomerang, which returned to the Ukrainian authorities, who for nearly two years, are in the illusions of European choice. They are doing right now, but what they did, they did late. As per Russian political scientist, everything would calm down and settle down in Ukraine.
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To the question whether Vladimir Putin is not exerting any pressure on Armenia, Mr. Zatulin said. “What do you mean by saying pressure? Russia does not interfere in internal affairs of Armenia, it is not trying to destabilize the situation, as it is done now by the European Union. Don’t you think that the EU is intruding in destabilization of the situation in Ukraine? EU delegates, representatives make speeches and are openly announcing that Ukraine will not sign now, it will sign when the President of Ukraine is replaced. What is this? Have we ever behaved like this? We have never behaved so. As for the pressures, of course, there is no pressure, for example, in Ukraine, they wants an immediate reduction in gas price, they do not want it at the price they have now. We suggested to them that they can get a discount on gas, if they join the Customs Union, but they answered that they want a discount on gas, but would never join the Customs Union.”
In response to our question whether NKR would enter into the Customs Union, the Russian political scientist said that he is very fond of Nagorno-Karabakh, he has many friends there, he is even considered a “persona non grata” for Azerbaijan, however, Nagorno-Karabakh will remain in its place, it will remain as Nagorno-Karabakh. “Is NKR nowadays in the same economic area with Armenia, yes, so what is the problem? Nagorno-Karabakh problem, in my personal opinion, certainly should be resolved peacefully, and as a political scientist, it seems to me that it is soluble, it require a display of courage from both sides. Azerbaijan should agree with the fact that Nagorno-Karabakh should be independent, and the territories of Azerbaijan under the control of Nagorno Karabakh armed forces should be returned. This, if you want to know, is a package deal. It cannot be otherwise. When I tell this to my Azerbaijani friends, they say that it is a pro-Armenian position, this was told to me by the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia, noting that it’s a typical Armenia position. But, it is the reality and that’s it,” concluded Konstantin Zatulin.
Nune AREVSHATYAN
