GRIZLOV WILL HOLD HIS TONGUE AND THEY WILL UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER WITHOUT WORDS
James Hakobyan
Lragir, Armenia
Aug 28 2007
The Russian-Armenian friendship is the hit of the recent days.
Although, for Armenia it is the hit of the few recent days. However,
it is also clear why recently it has been discussed so often. After
all it is not funny: Armenia and Russia have been friends for already
ten years, which was set down in the Grand Armenian and Russian
agreement. Interestingly, however, the top-level Russia-Armenia meeting
on the tenth anniversary of this agreement was held neither in Moscow
nor in Yerevan, i.e. in the capital of one of the countries, but in
Sochi, the capital of the winter Olympic Games in 2014. Perhaps the
strategic partnership of the sides is based on the Olympic principle
"agreement is not important, partnership is important." However,
it also became clear that this partnership occurs only a decade
later. At least the president of Russia Vladimir Putin stated that
"our relation has become that of genuine partnership." If Putin
was not joking, or did not take Armenia for Azerbaijan, like he had
done once during one of his previous meetings with Robert Kocharyan,
pronouncing Azerbaijan instead of Armenia, we may suppose that Armenia
and Russia has just shifted to the level of partnership.
In this case, it is interesting to know whom we have given our
enterprises, our energy sector, our gas sector, our property. In fact,
we have given 90 percent of our energy sector to a country which was
not our partner. Or we thought we were partners but the country thought
to be the partner did not think so otherwise Putin would not have
stated in 2007 that "our relation" is that of genuine partnership. It
appears that Armenia has considered Russia a partner all through these
years but we do not know what Russia has considered us to be. Grizlov
perhaps answered this question when he pronounced the word "fort" three
years ago. Three years later Serge Sargsyan said Grizlov wanted to say
something good but he had a slip of the tongue. What good partners we
are if one wants to say something about the partner but your tongue
utters the contrary. However, there is reason to doubt that Grizlov’s
tongue had a slip meant by the master of the tongue. Certainly it is
not important who the master of Grizlov’s tongue is, Grizlov himself
or Putin, for instance. It is important that Russia has proved through
its policy that it treats our country as a fort.
The problem is not that Russia is enhancing its military presence in
Armenia, for it is also useful to our security. The problem is that
in its relations with other countries Russia ignores the interests of
its partner Armenia. The examples are many: the Russian and Georgian
relations, the policy on Javakheti, regional infrastructures, when
Russia discusses the issue of the North-South transport corridor with
Azerbaijan. On the one hand, it is normal when Russia’s relation with
a country is based on its interest only. But it is not normal when in
this context Russia’s interest is primary in Armenia’s relations with
other countries. No doubt the reason is not our government’s devotion
to Russia but the fact that Russia will never forgive Armenia if our
country thinks first in its way then only in Russia’s way. There is
a lot of evidence, including regular killings of Armenians in Russia.
However, it has become clear from Putin’s words that we now relate
as partners. In other words, Grizlov will hold his tongue. Although
the tongue will not be needed much because the Armenian and Russian
relations have reached the level when the sides understand each other
without words.