The summit of the presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus was scheduled to launch in Astana. According to the Kremlin’s official release, the parties intend to discuss prospects for the development of trade between the three countries and the European integration process, given influence of the modern trends on the world economy, as well as mutual trade and the situation in Ukraine. On March 11, however, it became clear that the tripartite meeting was postponed. This information was confirmed by the Russian president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov. “Indeed, the leaders of the three countries decided to postpone the day of the summit in Astana for a few days,” he said. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed to sign the protocols of the agreement on Kyrgyzstan’s accession to the EaEU Agreement signed on December 23, 2014.
Recently, Putin has made another remarkable assignment. The Ministry of Finance of Russia and the Government are assigned to jointly with the Central Banks of the Eurasian Economic Union member states to elaborate until September 1 the further integration trends of the EaEU common currency and the financial sectors with the perspective of development of feasibility and possibility for creation of a monetary union. The experts were periodically warning about such Eurasian “prospects”. Still last year, the Russian “Moskovsky Komsomolets”, citing its source in the Eurasian Economic Commission, stated that the EaEU will have its common currency, and it will be called “altyn,” emphasizing that the issue of the common currency and its name has already unofficially been approved by the presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus.
The source even mentioned that it is planned to establish a Eurasian Central Bank with supranational powers. Today, Russia more than ever pursues the goal to show its influence and its being “united” with the former Soviet Union countries. And not just showing. Putin is consistently moving ahead by restoring its influence from the Eastern Europe to the Caucasus and Central Asia. All of this is accompanied by the demarches against the West. For example, recently, Russian mass media reported that Russia withdraws from the agreement on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and ceased its attendance at the Joint Consultative Group sittings of the Conventional Armed Forces Treaty. Studies of the ideas of opportunities for creation of a monetary union and further integration trends for the common currency and the financial sectors in the EaEU are really infeasible so far, under the conditions of the failed Union due to economic reasons.
One can only imagine what reaction Putin’s this kind of intention will cause to the leaders of Belarus and Kazakhstan, who do not miss any opportunity to oppose the President of Russia and to protect their own countries’ interests. The theme of Armenia’s non-attendance at the Astana meeting has been discussed for these days. Official Yerevan presented the Deputy Foreign Minister’s Shavarsh Kocharyan’s clarification, which says that the Armenian side will not participate in the forthcoming meeting of the three founding members of the Eurasian Economic Union in Astana, because it does not have any disagreements with those countries. “These three countries have mutual problems that they do not hide, and they are trying to settle down these disagreements between each other. We have no disagreement, we are a new member of the EaEU and we do not have problems with any of these countries in connection with the Eurasian Economic Union or other,” said Sh. Kocharyan in the interview with “Liberty”.
Read also
Followed by the same logic, Armenian cannot attend the meetings in the framework of CSTO and CIS, stating that it has no disagreements with the member states. To the point, the official Yerevan’s explanation is controversial, because, on the one hand, it is stated that the EaEU founding members have disagreements, but on the other hand, it is noted that Armenia has no disagreement with these three “conflicting” each other countries. From the outset, it was clear that Armenia would not be a decision-making in this structure. Anyway, how can any crucial summit, where serious problems are to be discussed and probably decisions made is not related to Armenia? Or, these problems and decisions will not refer to the future of Armenia?
On the other hand, however, it is positive to record the fact that no issues regarding directly Armenia will be discussed in Astana. Armenia’s membership to this structure, in general, without common borders, was unclear and at the same time evident that it is a result of a political decision. Therefore, Armenia’s participation in the EaEU gatherings also as it is seen bears a purely political nature rather than economic. When Armenia’s “voice” becomes necessary, then Armenia will attend these meetings of the EaEU format. In addition, several well-known meetings held under the EaEU are singled out by pro-Azerbaijani and controversial statements against Armenia. Recall Nazarbayev’s famous statement about Ilham Aliyev’s letter. To the point, this trend is maintained.
Recently, Minsk hosted the Belarus-Azerbaijan intergovernmental Economic Partnership Council session. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko accepted Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Yaqub Eyyubov prior to this Council session, and as reported by the Belarusian “Belta” news agency, Lukashenko announced that today Belarus is ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan in all directions. “We trust you, your country, your government, and we are ready to cooperate with you in all directions, so there are no closed spheres,” he said. Lukashenko called the attention to the fact that Belarus and Azerbaijan have always successfully resolved all issues raised and had mentioned that the volume of trade between the two countries has increased for the past year. “The trade with Azerbaijan is very profitable for us. We are ready to set up our companies there, are interested in your investments here and will provide absolute guarantees to you. ”
Alexander Lukashenko noted with satisfaction that the production localization in a number of industries is almost 50 percent. “It makes up 40 percent already, and it is a very good level,” said Lukashenko. “It means that you get the technologies that we have promised to you, and especially that I have promised to Ilham Aliyev, normal manufacturing facilities are established on the territory of Azerbaijan.” Belarus President stressed that the promotion of joint products to third countries and the Caucasus region is the next step and also thanked the Azerbaijani side for support and assistance. “You have always met us halfway, have always supported us. We will do the same for the fraternal nation of Azerbaijan.”
Emma GABRIELYAN
