`ARMENIA LOSES ITS PRO-RUSSIAN ORIENTATION’

Azg/arm
29 March 05

Mediamax agency informed that Ariel Cohen, senior expert at the
Washington based Inheritance Fund, doesn’t exclude that Russia “will
assist Armenia to destabilize the situation in Nagorno Karabakh.” He
said that “a very unpleasant process for Russia is taking place in the
South Caucasus.”

“Both the government and the population changes its preferences in the
foreign policy, turning to EU and NATO. According to the recent polls,
the majority of Armenia’s population calls for membership to NATO and
the latter’s participation in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.
They are for Armenia’s membership to EU, as well. Thus, Armenia is
gradually losing its pro-Russian orientation. In order to counteract
and neutralize this tendency, Russia applies some directions of its
policy. Firstly, Russia supports construction of Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline. The second factor is the so-called soft power, i.e. the
Russian culture. This year is declared Russia’s year in Armenia, and
presidents Putin and Kocharian will display the influence of the
Russian culture in Armenia in all the possible ways. The third and the
most important factor is Russia’ s assistance to the Armenians in the
Nagorno Karabakh issue that is of vital importance for them,” Ariel
Cohen said.

He believes that “Now, the US and Russia are playing quite a more
drastic game than they did 2-3 years ago.” “Besides, the situation is
very complicated for Russia, as it would like to have equally good
relations with both Azerbaijan and Armenia. Here, again, the Nagorno
Karabakh issue is put forward,” he stated.

“If Russia took a final choice and decided “to play” against the USA,
I think it is quite possible that Russia assists Armenia in
destabilizing the situation in Karabakh issue, by hindering the
opening of Baku-Tbilisi-Jehyan pipeline,” Ariel Cohen said.