“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” says that Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have still not publicized a “roadmap” to Armenia’s accession to their Customs Union adopted at a summit in Moscow earlier this week. “Let’s hope that they at least showed the text to Serzh Sarkisian,” the paper comments mockingly. It says Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s public misgivings disproved Armenian government claims that the Customs Union is a “friendly structure” for Armenia. “It turned out that even in that structure Armenia has an enemy that openly sides with Azerbaijan,” it says, adding that Russian would not necessarily back Armenia in possible rows with Kazakhstan.
“Hayots Ashkhar” quotes political analyst Sergei Minasian as downplaying Nazarbayev’s “special opinion” about Armenia’s membership bid. “Nazarbayev only made a verbal statement,” says Minasian. “After that two documents were signed.” He notes that Nazarbayev previously spoke of Turkey’s membership of the union. The Kazakh leader does realize that “we are joining the Customs Union together with Karabakh,” according to Minasian.
In an interview with “Zhoghovurd,” Karabakh Prime Minister Ara Harutiunian rules out the possibility of Armenia setting up customs checkpoints at the border with his unrecognized republic. “Since the Customs Union countries are still in the process of preliminary planning and negotiations they naturally need a number of technical clarifications,” says Harutiunian. “But one thing is clear: Artsakh’s borders cannot be disputed by any state or a grouping of states.”
“The more imperfect and flawed a government is, the greater disdain it shows for the society,” writes “Hraparak.” “This explains why the authorities do not bother to be accountable before the public, to explain the wisdom and motives for its actions, and to present plans of actions. The year 2013 has passed amid a lack of information. The Armenian public continuously demanded the publication of the Association Agreement [with the European Union] … but to no avail. There is now the same lack of publicity on the Customs Union.”
(Tigran Avetisian)
“Hayots Ashkhar” quotes political analyst Sergei Minasian as downplaying Nazarbayev’s “special opinion” about Armenia’s membership bid. “Nazarbayev only made a verbal statement,” says Minasian. “After that two documents were signed.” He notes that Nazarbayev previously spoke of Turkey’s membership of the union. The Kazakh leader does realize that “we are joining the Customs Union together with Karabakh,” according to Minasian.
In an interview with “Zhoghovurd,” Karabakh Prime Minister Ara Harutiunian rules out the possibility of Armenia setting up customs checkpoints at the border with his unrecognized republic. “Since the Customs Union countries are still in the process of preliminary planning and negotiations they naturally need a number of technical clarifications,” says Harutiunian. “But one thing is clear: Artsakh’s borders cannot be disputed by any state or a grouping of states.”
“The more imperfect and flawed a government is, the greater disdain it shows for the society,” writes “Hraparak.” “This explains why the authorities do not bother to be accountable before the public, to explain the wisdom and motives for its actions, and to present plans of actions. The year 2013 has passed amid a lack of information. The Armenian public continuously demanded the publication of the Association Agreement [with the European Union] … but to no avail. There is now the same lack of publicity on the Customs Union.”
(Tigran Avetisian)