WPS Agency, Russia
What the Papers Say (Russia)
February 12, 2009 Thursday
ASSISTANCE FEE
by Yuri Simonjan
MOSCOW MAY ASK ARMENIA TO JOIN THE RUBLE ZONE IN RETURN FOR A LOAN;
Yerevan and Moscow signed a preliminary agreement on a loan to
Armenia. The $500 million are supposed to aid survival of Armenian
economy in the crisis.
Vardan Aivazjan, Chairman of the Commission for Economic Affairs of
the National Assembly (parliament), said Armenia might join the ruble
zone by way of paying the loan back. "If Russia insists, the National
Assembly will decide the matter," he said. "It is actually the
Armenian people that will have to decide."
Armenia is somewhat disappointed because it had asked for $1 billion
and counted on getting the money. After all, Moscow had loaned $2
billion to Kyrgyzstan and Belarus each. Much to Yerevan’s chagrin, the
Kremlin agreed to loan it only half the sum. Armenia will appeal to
China and international financial establishments for the remaining
half a billion.
Commenting on the situation, Russian Ambassador to Armenia Nikolai
Pavlov admitted existence of the idea to extend the ruble zone to all
CIS countries. "Considering the crisis under way, the issue is off the
agenda at this point," the diplomat said.
"Russia and Belarus have been working on the Union state for… how
long? Even they cannot agree on principles of a common monetary
unit. And what does Armenia have to do with it?" political scientist
Andranik Tevanjan said.
Official Yerevan in the meantime desperately needs finances to quell
protests and the opposition. Armenian National Congress Coordinator
Levon Zurabjan said mass protests were scheduled for March 1,
anniversary of brutal dispersal of a peaceful manifestation where 10
protesters were killed. "We informed the city administration,"
Zurabjan said. "Political and social issues will be raised at the
rally."
Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, No 28, February 12, 2009, p. 2