“Zhoghovurd” speculates that world powers seem to be now competing with each other in their pursuit of a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In particular, the paper says, France expressed readiness to organize another meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents immediately after they held talks in Saint Petersburg, Russia on June 20. It believes that Serzh Sarkisian simply “cannot afford” to reject the French proposal. “On the contrary, the Armenian side is interested in preventing a dominant Russian role in the Karabakh negotiation process,” it says.
“Zhamanak” claims that the normalization of Russian-Turkish relations carries very serious risks for Armenia relating to its very “physical existence.” “The problem is that Armenia’s authorities will be mainly preoccupied with economic issues and not because the authorities care a lot about our economic prospects,” writes the paper. “It’s just that many Armenian government members personally gain from exports of Armenian food and agricultural products to Russia.”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” says that Russia is expected to lift its economic sanctions against Turkey by the end of this summer and looks at the possible economic impact of the measure on Armenia. The paper says that the Russian sanctions seem to have boosted Armenian exports to Russia this year. It claims that Armenian exporters will be faced with “serious problems” after Turkey regains access to the Russian agricultural market.
“The latest Russian-Turkish rapprochement will affect not only bilateral commerce and tourism,” writes “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun.” The pro-opposition paper predicts that Moscow and Ankara will also reach agreements on “more serious issues,” including the conflict over Karabakh. As for Armenia, it says the authorities in Yerevan will continue to put themselves at the mercy of the Russians and hope that the latter do not cut anti-Armenian deals with the Turks.
(Tigran Avetisian)