The president of National Press Center Narine Mkrtchyan presented her report, according to what approximately 70% of US aid programs in Armenia have failed. According to her, one of the reasons of failure was the wrong address of the aid programs. The American aid was wasted: parallel to American tremendous democracy aid, the American factor was gradually declining, the US role and the importance of democracy in the Republic of Armenia were being reduced, which caused the international isolation of Armenia.
Gevorg Melikyan, the expert of the Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs, asked why the authorities of RA are not talking about the Western aid. Narine Mkrtchyan answered that the reason is the pro-Russian politics, the democratic politics is not encouraged in Armenia. Then why the US continues to provide the aid, if it is not productive, Narine Mkrtchyan answered, because the US is still hopeful that the social and political consciousness in Armenia will change, which has been failed. Trump intends to cut the resources allocated to Armenia by 77%.
According to the president of “Modus Vivendi” center Ara Papyan, they obviously say go and take Russian’s money: “Don’t you want to take our money and protect interests of Russia?” Pursuant to Ara Papyan: “The Americans say if you want us to come a step forward come at least half step forward, but RA does not, it has not an equivalent attitude of gratitude. A simple thing: the Government made a decision to erect the statue of Wilson, as he has saved 132 orphans, after the decision, they have done everything not to erect the statue reasoning that there is no available space in Yerevan. After that, they have erected 5-6 statues in the city center. When you raise a question, they openly answer you – Russia might be offended. Even in case of a stamp, they say let’s at first print a gratitude stamp to Russia, then the US or Canada. Russia really has an influence on Amenia.”
Papyan is sure that the West has changed its attitude towards Armenia and that is the response to our certain steps. And as long as Armenia depends on the Russian Federation it cannot be a democratic country. According to Papyan: “British hang the rainbow flag, it is their life, each one’s sexual life is his/her business, but who protests? Those people protest who has taken money from the Russian embassy.”
According to Gevorg Melikyan, the US behaves as a typical superpower. To understand the US politics one should know its interests in the RA or in the region. The US has always supported Armenia.
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
