Expert’s blog: Armenia should take decisive step

In an interview with EvrazesNews.ru, the former Russian ambassador to Armenia Vyacheslav Kovalenko presented Russia’s attitude and position on the integration processes of Armenia. In particular, he noted that following the initialing of Armenia’s Association Agreement with the European Union, Russia and Armenia will be guided by their own interests.

If Russia believes that in that case some serious upheavals await Armenia, it is mistaken. The point is not that Armenia does not want to maintain strategic and allied relations with Russia, but that Russia has been guided only by its own interests regarding any issue.

It is necessary to realize once and for all that the initialing of the Association Agreement with the EU is of great importance to Armenia. First, Armenia will show in this way that as a principled and independent country, it is guided by its own interests even in such a serious situation. Moreover, Armenia made great effort to achieve the stage of the agreement’s initialing, and in this case Armenia should act, being aware that there is no inverse path.

In his interview, the Russian diplomat speaks about centuries-old friendship of Armenia and Russia and quotes Armenian classics, giving proof for the indestructible ties of the two countries, but he forgets about the episodes when Russia acted incorrectly, to put it mildly, at some points crucial to Armenia.
One example is the special session of Caucasian Bureau on July 5, 1921, when under Stalin’s pressure a decision was taken that Nagorno Karabakh would remain as part of the Azerbaijani SSR, whereas the previous day it was decided that Nagorno Karabakh would be part of the Armenian SSR. It shows that V. Kovalenko either exaggerates or ignores very important events.
In implementing its policy, Russia is always guided by own interests, ignoring the interests of its allies.

The former ambassador touched upon a very important issue: What real help, expect for advice, has the EU given to Armenia? Assistance of the EU and Russia is the subject of another talk. But let’s ask a question in response to that question. What efforts has Russia made in the past 20 years so that Armenia would head for the Eurasian space – in the context of integration processes?

Perhaps, it is in that context that Russia has consistently supplied arms to a country, which constantly threatens to resume the war, or Russia has acquitted a number of countries of their debts of billions, while in return for a $100 million debt, it took away the strategic ally’s strategic facilities, the majority of which either don’t work or work at low power.

Russia should realize that as a regional superpower, it is of importance to Armenia just like Armenia is of importance to it.
The only Russian military base in the South Caucasus is located in the territory of Armenia. Following the suspension of the use of the Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan, Armenia’s role has increased. All this shows that the strategic and allied relations are important not only for Armenia, but also for Russia.