Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Armenia about Serzh Sargsyan’s non-attendance to the meeting in Astana, the EaEU single currency and the Alliance of Turkic-language speaking states
The Armenian media much discussed and criticized the meeting0discussion of the three EaEU countries Presidents Vladimir Putin, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Alexander Lukashenko held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan on March 20-21, which was not attended by the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan. Note that the meeting was to take place earlier, on March 10-11, but it was postponed because of Vladimir Putin’s mysterious disappearance. Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Armenia Ayymdos Bozzhigitov considers the main question voiced in Armenia with regard to this meeting wrong of why Serzh Sargsyan was not invited to the meeting. In the conversation with “Aravot”, Mr. Ambassador said, “It’s no good putting the question this way that he was not invited. The format of the meeting referred to the bipartite and tripartite relations purely between Kazakhstan, Belarus and Russia. During the meeting, questions were discussed that generally were not related to the Eurasian Economic Union. Therefore, I do not consider such a question correct.”
Recall that a similar response was given to questions of the journalists by Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan. To the observation of “Aravot” that during the meeting, nevertheless, issues were discussed that did not evade the Eurasian Economic Union, Mr. Ambassador noted, “No decisions have been made at the meeting in Astana. I think that when decisions concerning the Eurasian Economic Union are passed, they will be prepared in advance and it will be made available not only to Serzh Azatich but also to the people who are, so to speak, in charge of the Eurasian Economic Union in Armenia. I mean that the technical staff will compile documents and will be presented for signing.” Recall that during this meeting, the Russian president spoke about passing to a single currency between Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus. In the meantime, Vladimir Putin instructed his country’s Central Bank responsible authorities to check the possibilities of switching to a single currency in the EaEU territory.
To our observation that Russian President stressed the names of the three EaEU member countries in Astana, again omitting the name of Armenia, Ayymdos Bozzhigitov countered. “No one excluded Armenia. It was just a suggestion by one of the Presidents, the way Serzh Azatich may also make his suggestion.” To the clarifying question that if four states are involved in the EaEU, so why the suggestion is voiced by three states: Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus, the Ambassador gave an evasive answer, “We have always stated that currently, the EaEU consists of four states.” To the assertion of “Aravot” the with regard to switching to single currency, Russian president has voiced only the names of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, the Ambassador countered that no such a thing has happened. “The journalists are writing their own views. It was a mere suggestion, perhaps by Putin … Officially, I have never seen such a suggestion. They are purely journalistic tricks.”
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Especially, the Russian media wrote a lot that the Kazakhstan President is initiating an Alliance of Turkic-language speaking states. To our question of whether the matter has religious roots and directed against other states in the region, Ambassador Ayymdos Bozzhigitov replied, “The Turks, Azeris and other Turkic language speaking people naturally use generalities of their language and traditions. We have a Turkish Council. All of this is done to use the generalities more flexible, it is purely a pragmatic step. No one is ever going to build such a state. 40 percent of Kazakhstan population are representatives of other ethnic groups, and to make the state strong, it is necessary to have stability in the country. Kazakhstan has initiated a Turkic Alliance, at the same time, it is one of the EaEU founders, at the same time, it has close and long-term plans for cooperation with the EU. In other words, Kazakhstan is very tolerant on this issues and will not put itself in an uncomfortable situation just for the intention of some ethnic people. Today, Kazakhstan is developed state with a dominant role in the region, sustainable economic development and enough power and opportunities to advance its own interests first and foremost.”
Recently, the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, made a public discontent that Russia continues supplying Azerbaijan with weapons. We were interested to know whether the RA President’s statement will affect Armenia’s partnerships within the EaEU. The ambassador said that the issue is beyond the scope of the EaEU and is exceptionally in the domain of RA-RF comprehensive partnerships. The fact that now Armenia has resumed active contacts with the European Union, the ambassador does not think it is a problem. He no way sees how Armenia’s active partnership with Europe should prevent the partnership in EaEU. “Kazakhstan and Belarus are also actively working with Europe, and it does not prevent.” Ayymdos Bozzhigitov, who is completing his diplomatic mission in our country and travels to Kyrgyzstan is leaving with good impressions of Armenia. “During my diplomatic tenure, a constructive dialogue began between my country’s and Armenia’s political authorities, as well as an economic cooperation, and Armenia joined the EaEU. I am satisfied with the work in Armenia. The leadership of Armenia has ensured all conditions for work, and we have very closely worked with the Government of Armenia.”
Interviewed by Nelly GRIGORYAN
