RUSSIAN POLICY IN CAUCASUS RELIES ON MISTAKEN THESIS

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.05.2007 14:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "In 2006 Moscow managed to overcome the shock of
color revolution, realizing that there were such threats in Azerbaijan
and Armenia but no revolution took place. Russia was also active in
the energy policy sphere, that’s why some politicians began to talk
about energy imperialism of Russia," Sergey Markedonov, Head of the
department of international relations at the Institute of Political
and Military Studies stated in Yerevan. He said it was a time of tough
pressure on Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in the sphere of bilateral
relations, which was expressed in twofold increase of gas prices.

"Russian activity in the post-soviet territory and particularly in this
region did not bring significant and notable results, because it relies
on some mistaken thesis. First, it is necessary to work only with
authorities, all citizens, the whole political establishment is not
interesting, since there are usual partners in power structures. Second
– inadequate fear from color revolutions. The Russian policy increased
the degree of mythology, because you can dislike Saakashvili as much
as you want, but you must not say that he is an American marionette,
you must not say that it is impossible to work with him, you must
not present Abkhazia on a platter, there are also other spheres of
cooperation: economy, joint protection of Chechen-Daghestan border,"
the Russian political scientist underlined. Markedonov thinks that
one must not rely on the soviet experience.

"Everything changes: at the beginning of the 20th century Dashnaks had
anti-Russian moods, now it is a ruling pro-Russian party. Armenia was
one of the most anti-Soviet republics in 80-ies, there is no need in
looking for pro-western and pro-Russian forces in Armenia, there are
only pro-Armenian forces here and they will use both Russia and the
West for the sake of their national interests," he underscored.