ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS ANCHORED ON CLOSE FOREIGN POLICY COORDINATION – FM NALBANDIAN
17:22 * 06.04.15
In an interview with the Russian publication International Affairs,
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian spoke of the Armenian-Russian
strategic alliance, the developments in Ukraine, the integration
processes in Armenia following the country’s accession to the Eurasian
Economic Union, and the Armenia-Turkey relations.
The minister said he thinks that Armenia’s membership in the economic
bloc of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus will pave the country’s way
to a more protected market, increasing its trade potentials.
“We believe that the four freedoms underlying the Eurasian Economic
Union – the movement of goods, services, capital and labor force – will
be an additional stimulus for the economy and its better integration
into the EEU.
“It enables us to have a more simplified, I would say freer access
to protected goods markets and the common services’ market of the
Eurasian Union, bring investments, create industrial and agricultural
cooperatives, enter the resource base without customs fees and the
EEU transport corridors, facilitate the migration regime etc.
“The advantages are obvious,” he said.
The minister further spoke of the Armenian-Russian strategic alliance.
“Our bilateral relations are specific in terms of the close
foreign policy coordination, the effective military-political
and military-technical cooperation, successful partnership in the
trade-economic, energy and transport sectors, the decentralized
cooperation gaining more momentum by every year and the continuously
developing mutual cooperation in culture, and science and education.
Russia is our main trade partner and main investor in Armenia’s
economy. Over 1,400 joint ventures operate in our country and over
250 bilateral documents have been signed.
“The Armenian-Russian relations are strengthened thanks to effective
cooperation within international and regional organizations, including
the UN and the OSCE; I would especially single out the CSTO [Collective
Security Treaty Organization], the CIS [Commonwealth of Independent
States] and, of course, the Eurasian Economic Union. We continue the
search for new long-term trends to invest joint efforts.
“Whatever the interstate relations, they cannot be really strong if
there isn’t warmth in the relations between the peoples and among
people. In that connection, I would like to emphasize especially
the deep relations uniting our peoples and ordinary individuals,
which have stood the test of time.”
“The minister said he very much regrets for the developments in Ukraine
and tensions in that country’s relations with Russia. “That’s first
of all a grief that [provokes] a sense of a deep sympathy. It is not
only through diplomatic channels that the situation is familiar to
us. An Armenian community of 1.5 million people resides in all the
regions of Ukraine.”
“We are confident that the current situation has to find its solution
through a dialogue; that is why we were among the first countries
to welcome the agreements in Minsk, the declaration by the Normandy
Quartet leaders and the signing by the Contact Group of comprehensive
measures aimed at the implementation of the Minsk agreements,”
Nalbandian said, expressing hope that the deals would help reach a
comprehensive solution, paving way for peace and stability.
The minister said he finds that the sanctions against Russia affect
not only the sides involved in the conflict but also other countries.
“It cannot be in anyone’s interests,” he said, “We think that ways
for settling the problems can be searched only through negotiations
and a dialogue.”
The minister further commented on the upcoming commemorations of the
Armenian Genocide centenary and their impact on Armenia’s foreign
policies towards its direct neighbors. “The 100th anniversary of the
Genocide will be marked this year in Armenia, as well as around the
globe. Thousands of events are planned. They will focus on four key
trends, paying first of all the tribute of respect to the Genocide
victims. The Armenian Apostolic Church is going to canonize the
Armenian Genocide victims. ”
“The second trend is the gratitude to those who lent a helping hand to
the Armenian people at the moment of ordeal. And there are many such
countries and peoples. The Armenian people were not left alone. So
the 100th anniversary is an occasion to deliver a word of gratitude
yet another time.
“The third direction involves the efforts towards the prevention of new
genocides and new crimes against humanity. It is important not only for
Armenia and the Armenian people but also the international community.
“If the crime against humanity, committed behind the veil of World War
I, had been duly condemned, it would have been possible to prevent
all the others, including those committed behind the veil of World
War II and the crimes against humanity perpetrated later.”
“And the last, fourth trends is rebirth. The Armenian nation not only
survived the Genocide but also managed to be born anew. We were able
to recreate our statehood and our independence, to revive our culture
and science. And it was not only Armenia that saw the rebirth. The
Armenians managed to set up homes in many countries of the world,
promoting and still continuing to bring their contribution to those
countries’ development.
“We, together with the international community, will commemorate the
Genocide centennial under the slogan Never Again,” he said referring,
further to the genocide prevention and condemntation resolutions
submitted to different international organizations, including the UN
and the Council of Europe.
“The Armenians around the world agree unanimously that the Genocide
must be condemned by the international community, but all those
who consider themselves part of the civilized world and share the
universal human values,” the minister added.
Nalbandian said that despite Armenia’s proactive steps to normalize
its relations with Turkey (the negotiations launched back in 2008
upon President Serzh Sargsyan’s initiative and the signing of the 2009
Swiss-mediated protocols aimed at the normalization of bilateral ties
and opening of the closed interstate border), the Turkish leadership
failed to demonstrate willingness to push ahead with the process
peacefully, imposing instead its preconditions on Armenia. “What’s
even more, the policy of denial and forging history is gaining a new
momentum in Turkey.”
“Last August. I delivered to President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan the
invitation by President Serzh Sargsyan to attend the April 24, 2015
[centennial commemoration] events in Yerevan. Unfortunately, our
invitation remained unanswered, becoming yet another lost opportunity
for Turkey,” Nalbandian added.