“Haykakan Zhamanak” claims that the Armenian government had to “overcome great difficulties” in order to get Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Armenia. The paper says the visit took place because Putin also needs now to “once secure a loyalty vow from Armenia and thwart the construction of a major gas pipeline running through Armenia and bypassing Russia.”
“Ayb-Fe” is convinced that Yerevan is sticking to the traditional Armenian slogan of “forever with Russia.” “Once again there are new developments in the world and once again we fail to realize the essence of the changes. Developments have reached a decisive point where Russia’s former colonies will finally rid themselves of their former master’s influence.” Russia maintains its influence in the South Caucasus only thanks to Armenia, says the paper. “We are effectively turning into an alien body hampering global developments and an appendage to another security system in this region.”
“Iravunk” says Russia is keen to show that it is neutral in the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, avoiding any privileged treatment of its “strategic partner.” “Russia has already accumulated considerable bitter experience in supporting unpopular leaders across the CIS,” writes the paper. “Recent years’ developments show that such leaders are doomed to be overthrown. Perhaps that is the reason why official Moscow has displayed a fairly cautious approach to the revolutionary events in Kyrgyzstan.” Putin will therefore steer clear of overtly and publicly backing Kocharian in Yerevan. But the paper says that even though both Russia and the U.S. know that “Kocharian’s regime is doomed” they are not in a hurry to “accelerate its collapse,” seeking instead to clinch concessions from Yerevan.
“Yerkir” is confident that Azerbaijan will not resume the war in Nagorno-Karabakh without international backing. The paper says Baku has toughened its position since the passage of a controversial resolution on Nagorno-Karabakh by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). It claims that President Ilham Aliev could order “radical actions” on the Karabakh line of contact to neutralize opposition challenges to his rule at this fall’s parliamentary elections.
(Vache Sarkisian)
“Ayb-Fe” is convinced that Yerevan is sticking to the traditional Armenian slogan of “forever with Russia.” “Once again there are new developments in the world and once again we fail to realize the essence of the changes. Developments have reached a decisive point where Russia’s former colonies will finally rid themselves of their former master’s influence.” Russia maintains its influence in the South Caucasus only thanks to Armenia, says the paper. “We are effectively turning into an alien body hampering global developments and an appendage to another security system in this region.”
“Iravunk” says Russia is keen to show that it is neutral in the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, avoiding any privileged treatment of its “strategic partner.” “Russia has already accumulated considerable bitter experience in supporting unpopular leaders across the CIS,” writes the paper. “Recent years’ developments show that such leaders are doomed to be overthrown. Perhaps that is the reason why official Moscow has displayed a fairly cautious approach to the revolutionary events in Kyrgyzstan.” Putin will therefore steer clear of overtly and publicly backing Kocharian in Yerevan. But the paper says that even though both Russia and the U.S. know that “Kocharian’s regime is doomed” they are not in a hurry to “accelerate its collapse,” seeking instead to clinch concessions from Yerevan.
“Yerkir” is confident that Azerbaijan will not resume the war in Nagorno-Karabakh without international backing. The paper says Baku has toughened its position since the passage of a controversial resolution on Nagorno-Karabakh by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). It claims that President Ilham Aliev could order “radical actions” on the Karabakh line of contact to neutralize opposition challenges to his rule at this fall’s parliamentary elections.
(Vache Sarkisian)