RUSSIA SHOULD BE SERIOUSLY ENGAGED IN PROTECTION OF ITS INTERESTS IN ARMENIA, RF DEPUTY K. ZATULIN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
May 22 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Member of RF State Duma, Director
of Institute of CIS Countries, Konstantin Zatulin considers that
the parliamentary elections held in Armenia introduced certainty
not only in the issue of distribution of seats in the new staff of
the National Assembly, but also in the issue of successor of Robert
Kocharian leaving his post in 2008 and in continuation of his business.

In the article published on May 12 in the Izvestia Russian daily
K. Zatulin expressed an opinion that by creating the Bargavach Hayastan
(Prosperous Armenia) Party on his own initiative in 2006, R. Kocharian
had decided at least to insure himself if he decided to change the
main horse of the power coach and pretended to remain, for instance,
in the role of the Prime Minister after leaving President’s post. "If
the maximum program of the leaving President was this, the elections
showed that the voter did not appreciate it," K. Zatulin wrote
adding that as a result of the elections S. Sargsian secured Prime
Minister’s post and the unquestionable right of the main candidate at
the forthcoming presidential elections. As K. Zatulin estimated, all
this became possible because one problem was solved perfectly, that is,
to move voters’ attention from struggle between power and opposition
to competition inside the power camp, so to leave the sharpest critics
of power outside the future parliament, on the side of political life.

In the words of the Director of Institute of CIS Countries, the past
parliamentary elections in Armenis should draw Russia’s attention
because during the election campaign for the first time over the recent
years the issue of Armenia’s attitude to Russia, the issue of limits
and abilities of Armenia’s cooperation with Russia and the West was
discussed. "It seems there are no grounds for anxiety. But indeed
there are such," K. Zatulin said. In his words, it has become clear
that pursuing their own interests, Russia and Armenia cannot live
with their old luggage, toasts to Russian-Armenian friendship are
not enough, the relations between the peoples and the states do not
result in Presidents’ unoffical meetings. "If Russia’s interests in
the Caucasus do not come to an end on the state border, it is time for
us to be seriously engaged in them in Armenia," K. Zatulin concluded.