The theme of “Aravot” online “Face to Face” talk show on the air is discussed by Chairman of Armenia’s Helsinki Committee, Avetik Ishkhanyan, and expert for Regional Research Centre, Haikak Arshamyan.
Aram Abrahamyan – First of all, a natural question arises, will we be a member of Eurasian Economic Union on October 10?
Avetik Ishkhanyan – No one can say whether it will be or not, because we remember since September 3, last year, how many time this schedule was changed depending on too many circumstances. In my opinion, the main circumstance was that Belarus and Kazakhstan for some reasons hampered Armenia’s accession to the alleged Union. Whether it will be on October 10 or not, in my opinion, depends on what leverage Russia will have to compel Belarus and Kazakhstan to ratify Armenia’s accession.
Haikak Arshamyan – I agree, but would also add that the so-called “against” by Kazakhstan and Belarus, be it in quotation marks or real, is also to some extent agreed with Russia, because no matter the presidents or monarchs of these countries seek to appear independent and invincible before Russia, it is not so. I think that there are not only controversies, but also interests. I, however, think that Nazarbayev, who, if you remember, announced to Serzh Sargsyan that Armenia cannot join the Customs Union along with Karabakh, he definitely did it with Putin’s consent, because Putin was just sitting there and uttered not a single word.
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A. A. – Do you agree?
A. I – To be honest, I disagree a little, because regarding the same Kazakhstan, Putin allowed a certain expression, in other words, controversies are actually quite a lot. One more thing I would like to say that on September 15, I attended a conference in Kazakhstan about the possible situation of human rights associated with the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Area, and I learned more there about Kazakhstan than I knew. Ultimately, in some sense, Kazakhstan’s accession is also a compelled move, but Kazakhstan is willing to do to save its face. Whereas, Armenia’s accession, in my opinion, is more advantageous to Russia, because unlike Belarus and Kazakhstan that want to extract something from this unification, in case of Armenia’s accession, it is just an extra vote to Russia.
A. A. – About benefit and losses. Usually, the supporters for the EaEU, the government officials, say, it will be very good for us economically, but when we calculate that we will have economic problems, they say that economic aspect is nothing, the important thing is the security. How would you explain this duality?
H. A. – I will approach the issue from a different angle. Thus, if one day Serzh Sargsyan stands up and says his supporters that we refuse the Customs Union and now again choose the European path, these same people with the same success will again start applauding and defending Serzh Sargsyan’s words. And every time quoting the Karabakh problem and gradually losing Armenia’s sovereignty, I think it is very wrong, because the Karabakh issue, naturally, should be settled between Armenia and Azerbaijan with Karabakh’s participation. Sooner our authorities, as well as Azerbaijan and Karabakh solve this issue, the sooner we all, especially Armenia and Karabakh, will at least come out of Russia’s this intense pressure. We can speak more than fair with the Russian authorities, and I think that Karabakh’s trump card is played more by Armenia’s than Russia’s authorities.
Prepared by ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
“Face to Face” talk show series are released by the Open Society Foundations – Armenia. The views and analyzes found in this broadcast express the opinions of the participants, and are not approved by the Open Society Foundations -Armenia, or its Board. This broadcast is made available thanks to comprehensive financial support by the Open Society Foundations -Armenia, under the mass media support program, grant No 18624.
