RIA Novosti, Russia
Aug 19 2005

CIS and Baltic press on Russia

[parts omitted]
ARMENIA

The media continue to show interest in the subject of the need for
Armenia’s integration with Europe. “Armenia has no alternative to
integration with Europe… In foreign policy, the republic should be
guided exclusively by economic interests, that dictate the need to take
a course for integration with the European Union” (Aravot, August 16.)

At the same time, the press continues assessing prospects for the
development of the Commonwealth of Independent States. “The CIS is
an interstate structure which really exists in the geopolitical sense
and which should be reckoned with… The Commonwealth has a positive
dynamics of the development of all-round ties”.(Armenpress, August 12.)

Experts are sure that Russia, which is interested in the preservation
of the status quo, fully controls the situation in Armenia. “As a
result of a revolution, our country may find itself under Russia’s
control, the way this happened in Kyrgyzstan… Russia may provide
assistance in carrying out a revolution in Armenia. Outstripping other
countries in this respect, Russia will try to preserve Armenia’s
pro-Russian authorities, which are suitable for it” (Aravot,
August 11.)

Against the background of a lull in political life in August,
several criminal incidents in various regions of Russia in which
Armenians suffered are widely covered in the press. The press is
publishing detailed reports about the incidents, refraining from
making comments yet.