ARA ABRAHAMIAN: "ARMENIA NEEDS STABILITY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT"

AZG Armenian Daily 15/07/2008

Armenia-Russia

Armenian President Serge Sarkisian’s last visit to Russia is
considered to be a success, though in the republic the political
situation has become heated; the opposition holds rallies ignoring
the first President’s first achievements.

About the results of the visit, the situation in the republic and
Armenian programs President of the Union of Armenians in Russia Ara
Abrahamian told "Izvestia" reporter.

– Armenia is now in a rather hard situation; the opposition continues
holding mass meetings. On the whole, how do you assess the present
stage of the situation in Armenia?

– It’s hard to assess the situation in Armenia out of the
international context. Today the world is in a serious financial and
food crisis. The rise in food prices has had an effect not only on
newly developed countries but also on the most developed countries
of the West. Power-bearing substances has also had a rapid growth
in prices. Besides, the world has entered a stage of deep financial
crisis. These three factors have first an effect on those countries
that haven’t yet taken a stable way of development and haven’t formed
a modern economy.

In this situation, the only neighbor of Armenia that gives the latter
an opportunity of entrance to outer world, and provides economic and
financial support, is now under a serious threat. I speak of Iran
that is now under US and Israeli menace.

The blockade of Armenia by Turkey continues. In the year of
presidential elections the warlike announcements of the official Baku
become more frequent.

Georgia in its turn has conflicts with Russia, Abkhazia and South
Osetia that does not contribute to the strengthening of regional
stability.

– Do you think that the Russian-Armenia relations and cooperation
can ease the negative effects on Armenia that today occur in the
world economy.

– Yes, of course. The results of the Armenian President’s successful
visit to Moscow is a witness to it. Many important arrangements were
made over the gas prices and delivery of raw materials to the Armenian
diamond perfection plants.

During the visit, the Armenian President met with the Armenian
community of Russia and well-known figures of Russian scientific,
cultural and business spheres. The President called them to participate
more actively in both economic and scientific/cultural life of Armenia,
to carry out concrete programs and strengthen the Armenian-Russian
bilateral relations.

Not all the political forces both in Armenia and abroad are for the
strengthening of the relations between our two countries. That is the
reason why it is very important to carry out the arrangements in time
and in full volume.

– Of course, the Armenian inner-political situation develops both in
the context of the world and Russian-Armenian original relations. Which
are the challenges to the Armenian authorities?

– Taking into account all those circumstances, I can say that it will
be very difficult for the Armenian economy to meet all the challenges
without foreign assistance. The opposition that lost the elections
does not conciliate with its defeat and does everything to destabilize
the situation and come to power by means of rallies and mass meetings.

The authorities of the republic try to meet those challenges by uniting
the available resources. Besides, the Armenian leadership tries to
form a more effective mechanism to use the opportunities of Diaspora
in the settlement of social and economic issues of the republic.

I think that in this stage it is necessary to concentrate the efforts
of all Armenians in the world on helping Armenia, the new President
and Government to carry out the programs presented by the President
during his campaign.

Today Armenia most of all needs stability for its economic development.

I hope that the Armenian political figures, the authorities and the
opposition realizing the complication of the issues will be first
led by national interests subordinating group interests.