ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN "HOSTILE FRIENDSHIP"
Hayk Aramyan
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11:39:15 – 15/08/2009
According to the politician, the head of the Armenian centre of
national and international studies, Richard Giragosyan, the opening
of the Armenian and Russian border is in Russia’s interests. The
Armenian economy is ruled by Russia. These are Russian and Turkish,
and not Armenian and Turkish relations. The politician Manvel Sargsyan
expressed the opinion that Turkey initiated the deepening of its
relations with Turkey, where there is no Armenia. Turkey has never
had any wish to negotiate with Armenia.
The Armenian and Turkish negotiations exist in the framework of
the Russian and Turkish rapprochement. And this rapprochement is
impossible without the Armenian factor because Armenia does not have
to hinder it with its problems. And in order not to hinder, it has
to be forced to make steps, which contradict the interests of Armenia
and the Armenian people, which we witness in the last moths.
"The Armenian and Russian friendship of centuries" is a complicated and
historically interesting phenomenon. Russia, in order to be established
in the Caucasus and in the adjacent areas, has always used the Armenian
factor. Russia has never hidden that Armenia is just a castle for it
to control the whole region. There is an interesting historical fact:
when Russia leaves the region, the territory of Armenia increases and
becomes more powerful. And when Russia comes back into the region,
it takes place on account of the Armenian territories. This proves
the whole history of the Russian and Turkish relations, the agreements
signed in result of the Russian and Turkish 6 wars.
The same happened in the beginning of the century. When Russia had to
yield from the region, the republic of Armenia, despite its terrible
state, managed to survive and even broaden its territories. When
Russia came back, it happened by giving Karabakh and Nakhichevan to
Azerbaijan, an agreement with Turkey was signed, which provided for
yielding a part of the Eastern Armenia to Turkey. We may also recall
the fact unknown for many, when in 1923 Turkey was almost destroyed,
when Greek troops occupied Ankara, and Russia provided Turkey with
weapons and troops and saved it. Not accidentally, Vladimir Lenin is
mentioned as a saint in Turkish mosques.
And the most recent example is the Karabakhi conflict. Until Russia was
in the region, its troops eliminated all the Armenians in Martakert,
Shahumyan, Gardman and other Armenian areas. When the USSR collapsed
and Russia did not have the previous power in the Caucasus, Armenia
restored a part of its damages.
In the present moment, Russia and Turkey have serious problems
with the West; they try to establish strategical cooperation, which
will include the Caucasus and the Central Asia. Naturally, in this
Russian and Turkish regular commerce, the Armenian topic cannot be
avoided. The facts are evident. By the order of Russia, the Armenian
government agreed on demands without informing the Armenian society
on the Karabakhi issue and on the Armenian and Turkish relations. It
is natural that Russia is to solve its issues with Turkey on account
of Armenia, because there is no other object of trade.
Here is a "friendship of centuries". But no one has to blame Russia,
but we have to think to put this friendship on mutually expedient
basis. This will be a surprise for Russia, because such a thing in 300
years of "friendship" never happened and the concept of the Armenian
interest may seem strange to Russia.
Hence, Armenia has to seek to become a partner from the object of
trade and has to present political initiatives, which will enable to
come out of this situation. Of course, the qualities of the Armenian
current administration do not inspire hopes that it is possible
in the nearest future. And by that time, we have to set hopes on
disagreements between Russia and Turkey with the West. But this is
not a long lasting guarantee.