RUSSIA NOT INDIFFERENT TO POLITICAL PROCESSES IN ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
31.03.2007 14:35 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Russia is not indifferent to political processes
in Armenia, specifically on the threshold of election," said Sergey
Markov, Director of the Institute for Political Studies. "First,
Armenian nation is a fraternal nation and it’s not all the same for
us how this fraternal nation lives.
Second, we are developing a multisided cooperation with
Armenia. Armenia is a member of the CIS, CSTO and EurAsEC. It’s our
strategic partner in the Transcaucasus and we highlight stability in
an allied state. The problem of stability emerged after the untimely
death of the Prime Minister. The post will be most likely assumed
by Serge Sargsyan, the incumbent Defense Minister and one of the
Republican Party leaders. This appointment will presume pro-Russian
line of the Armenian leadership but at the same time will lead to
intensification of the election struggle," Sergey Markov said.
"Russia should influence on the Armenian election without penetrating
into the republic’s sovereignty.
But Russia should not be more modest than U.S. and EU.
I think it’s high time to stop witnessing how our fraternal nations
are being invaded by outer influence centers and anti-Russian policy,"
the Russian expert said.
When asked how Russia should exert influence, Sergey Markov said,
"First of all we should send observers to Armenia to reduce the
republic’s dependence from politically ‘engaged’ OSCE observers,
who arrive with prepared answers to all questions. Besides, Russia
should support some parties and candidates. We know that most of
Armenian citizens stand for priority of relations with Russia and
they have the right to know Russia’s opinion," Kreml.org reports.