VISIT OF ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN TO MOSCOW
Alexander Iskandaryan,
Eurasian Home Analytical Resource
June 27 2008
Russia
The Russian-Armenian relations can be regarded as invariably good and
stable. So, the visit of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to Moscow
could not change the Russian-Armenian relations drastically. For all
that, it was of great importance.
During the visit the Armenian President and his Russian counterpart
Dmirty Medvedev coordinated their positions and made personal contact
with each other. Here there is a need to emphasize the difficulties
that could challenge the Russian-Armenian dialogue. First of all,
Russia and Armenia should take into consideration the position of
Georgia which is situated between Russia and Armenia and with which
Russia is in bad terms.
The second factor of the Russian-Armenian relations is the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan and Armenia differ with each
other on the ways to improve the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh,
and Turkey, which borders on Armenia, does not maintain diplomatic
relations with Yerevan.
The third factor is Iran which also borders on Armenia. The
U.S. position on Iran influences Tehranâ~@~Ys relations with Russia
and Armenia.
Those factors couldnâ~@~Yt be eliminated during one visit of Serzh
Sargsyan to Moscow. Of course, the Russian trains will not go to
Armenia via the Georgian railway immediately after the visit.
The current situation allows us to maintain the mutually advantageous
partnership relations in the military and political sphere. Armenia
is Russiaâ~@~Ys ally, it does not belong to organizations or alliances
that may act against or sidestepping Russia.
Armenia is the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization)
member state. Russiaâ~@~Ys military base is stationed in Armenia,
which fortifies Yerevanâ~@~Ys positions against Turkey. For Russia,
the base is likely the only opportunity of its military presence in
the South Caucasus region. Another Russian military base has been
withdrawn from Georgia. Gabala radar station is still in Azerbaijan
but it may be removed from the country after 2012.
On the other hand, there are some problems in the economic cooperation
with Russia. They are mainly connected with Armeniaâ~@~Ys geographical
location. It is impossible to supply goods to Armenia from Russia
via Azerbaijan. It is too expensive to do that via the Caspian Sea
through Iran. It is also too difficult and too expensive to supply
Russian goods to Armenia via Georgia.
This has an impact on the Russian-Armenian economic relations,
thus limiting the cooperation to the energy projects. As regards the
other goods â~@~S a lot of them cannot be brought by planes. However,
the Russian investment inflow compensates that. This is todayâ~@~Ys
general tendency. Russiaâ~@~Ys capital goes to the CIS and other
countries. Armenia has a positive attitude to the foreign investments,
no matter whether they are Russian or not.
The Russian investments are made in the energy sector. For example,
ArmRosgazprom enterprise supplies the Armenian republic with
gas. Russian cellular service providers, such as MTS and Beeline are
working in Armenia. Megaphone may also appear in the republic. Russian
Railways company is going to revive the Armenian railways. The former
RAO UES of Russia company controls the energy sector in the country.
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