“Zhoghovurd” says that the recent presidential elections in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia underlined “substantive differences” existing between the three South Caucasus states. “It can be said that Armenia stands in between the Azerbaijani authoritarianism and Georgian democracy,” writes the paper. It says that unlike in Azerbaijan and Georgia, there is “a deep contradiction” between the form and substance of the political system in Armenia. “This is probably more dangerous for a country’s development. Even the most authoritarian system could be more effective for a country’s development than a regime suffering from a dual identity syndrome,” claims “Zhoghovurd.”
“Hayots Ashkhar” believes that this week’s Minsk summit of the Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan demonstrated that contrary to various speculations there are no serious obstacles to Armenia’s accession to their customs union. The paper says that the Kazakh and Belarusian presidents “played the Armenian card” before and during the summit only to solve their commercial issues with Russia.
Aleksandr Krylov, a Russian political analyst, tells “Zhamanak” that Armenia has still not made a final decision on whether or not to join the customs union. He says the situation will clear up after the European Union’s upcoming summit in Lithuania’s capital Vilnius. Krylov believes that even if Yerevan officially opts for the Russian-led union its accession will take some time. “The issues are more technical than political,” he says. “But a solution to them requires a 100 percent will by Armenia on joining the customs union.”
“168 Zham” has no doubts that the Armenian parliament will pass the state budget for next year drafted by the government. The paper says that during the upcoming parliamentary debates on the issue pro-government deputies will only be interested in securing promises that companies owned by or connected to them will be granted government procurements or other contracts.
(Tigran Avetisian)
“Hayots Ashkhar” believes that this week’s Minsk summit of the Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan demonstrated that contrary to various speculations there are no serious obstacles to Armenia’s accession to their customs union. The paper says that the Kazakh and Belarusian presidents “played the Armenian card” before and during the summit only to solve their commercial issues with Russia.
Aleksandr Krylov, a Russian political analyst, tells “Zhamanak” that Armenia has still not made a final decision on whether or not to join the customs union. He says the situation will clear up after the European Union’s upcoming summit in Lithuania’s capital Vilnius. Krylov believes that even if Yerevan officially opts for the Russian-led union its accession will take some time. “The issues are more technical than political,” he says. “But a solution to them requires a 100 percent will by Armenia on joining the customs union.”
“168 Zham” has no doubts that the Armenian parliament will pass the state budget for next year drafted by the government. The paper says that during the upcoming parliamentary debates on the issue pro-government deputies will only be interested in securing promises that companies owned by or connected to them will be granted government procurements or other contracts.
(Tigran Avetisian)