According to Haykak Arshamyan, it has been 15 years since Russian steps are presented as enhancement of Armenian-Russian age-old friendly ties.
– Mr. Arshamyan, what do you think can the unprecedented activity of the Ukrainian society to fight for leading the country by the path of European integration be spread throughout the former Soviet republics up to Eurasian integration projects against Russia by the principle of chain reaction? Do you consider it possible that for the sake of establishment of true democracy, the struggle may become more substantive?
– Let’s face facts that although the second revival of Ukrainian Maidan began as an immediate reaction to the statement made by the leadership of the country on rejecting the Association Agreement and the Customs Union accession, however is gradually transformed to more organized struggle, which requires not only refusal to join the Customs Union and go towards the European Economic Integration, but also trying to get rid of the current government, which have made this powerful, economic and human resources-rich country a consumer society. At the same time, we should not forget that the movement is supported and even led by a few parties, prominent intellectuals, and artists. Only the presence of Vitali Klitschko and the group “Okean Elzy” were enough to instill confidence and spirit in people. As for the chain reaction, in this case, the possibility of the so-called “Arab spring” effect is too low to consider, given the difference between human and financial resources, the attitude of the outer world, the age-old stereotypes formed within the society, and so on.
– The steps of official Moscow in recent months show that Russia really has no intention to stand back from the post-Soviet republics. In particular, the Russian President’s statement in Armenia that Russia has no intention of leaving the Transcaucasus, what processes may it result in?
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– The steps of official Moscow show this for almost 15 years, but every time it was presented to the public as an enhancement of Armenian-Russian age-old friendly ties. In fact, there have not been bilateral equilibrated relations, the matter was about the public wealth, gradual handing over of the country’s economy and communications, for which the only promise was preservation of the power. Moreover, the vast majority of the society did not respond to this process sharply, starting from the “Property for debt” weird transaction until donation of 20 % of “ArmRusGasProm”, which, in my opinion, can be qualified as an Armenian “Watergate”. As a result, we have already begun “enjoying” the fruits picked up by the authorities. As for Azerbaijan, they are enjoying an endless supply of Russian weapons, and the regular Russian-Turkish rapprochement is very favorable for them, and as for Georgia, I am sure that serious challenges are expected to Russia. Iran’s recent reaction to these processes was also interesting in terms of discussion about Iranian gas prices and around it.
-In Kiev, in Maidan, hundreds of thousands of people are struggling for a few weeks; on the day of Putin’s visit to Armenia, several hundred people came out against the decision to join the Customs Union. How do you explain this phenomenon that the vast majority of our society believes that “Armenia is lost without Russia”, or there is no such opposition force to lead the society, which nowadays can come out fighting for the sovereignty of Armenia?
– This comparison is presented to the society quite a lot, but let’s look at this from the perspective of the dynamics. The next day following Serzh Sargsyan’s statement on September 3, about 100 people expressed their complaint in front to Baghramyan 26, the next day that many people went to the Republican Party’s office to continue their protest. Whereas on the day of Putin’s arrival in Gyumri, on December 2, 500 people came out to the street. On December 10, the Day of Human Rights, at least three times more people participated in the demonstration initiated by the ANC, t the point, a part of them were not ANC’s supporters, but the solidarity, uniting around one notion, I think, is very important in this case. Recently it announced about a new initiative on its part. The matter is about the “Civil contract”, where the management board members announced that they are ready to cooperate with the political and civil forces, who are concerned about the future of the country. Whereas, the younger generation of civic activists are everywhere, though still in summer, during “AMD 100 ” action, I’ve many times heard the phrase: “we do not interfere in politics.” And, now look at how these young people are active in different kinds of initiatives and promotions. Our society should eventually break this stereotype, because by saying politics, people mistakenly understand partisanship, whereas any process that takes place in the state is already politics: starting from social issues up to the development and adoption of laws, from economic monopolies to gas and transport price.
Emma GABRIELYAN
