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The Armenian Observer
January 5, 2014 Sunday 11:08 AM EST
Here's to The New Year: The Worst Is Yet To Come
by Artur Papyan
Festive Fireworks on New Year's Eve in Yerevan's Republic Square, 01Jan2014
I'm the most optimistic person I've met in this world. And yet, when
the lavish fireworks broke into Yerevan's arrogant night sky on New
Year's Eve, my heart squeezed with sorrow.
The Armenian authorities are spending 20 milion AMD ($50,000 US) to
celebrate the coming of a year, which in president Serzh Sarkissian's
words [1]will see Armenia become a full member of the Customs Union.
'Armenia is creating a new reality which will make her more protected
and more competitive,' Serzh Sarkissian went on to say defending his
sudden decision to turn away from the world's biggest market and
Armenia's largest trade partners and side with[2] the group of
countries with some of the world's most corrupt and autocratic
regimes.
Sadly though, most people I talked to in the past few days are
embracing the accession into the Russia-led Customs Union as the only
salvation this country has. And they find amazing justifications too:
'no more problems migrating to Russia', 'bringing more Russian troops
to Armenia', 'no more rising of the prices for natural gas' and a
personal favorite of mine: 'Putin will show these bloody oligarchs how
to behave, because he cares more about the people in Armenia than our
current rulers do!' Yep, that's a favorite one, except that I have a
problem with every one of those perceived benefits.
We have got to stop migration from Armenia, not encourage it by
forging ties with Russia. Our brothers (and even my very own sister)
are creating worth for the Russian Empire instead of staying home and
developing our land.
More Russian troops? When we already have enough of them to invade
Yerevan and other key cities in a matter of two hours if Putin decides
he doesn't like what the Armenian authorities are doing!
Not rising the gas prices? But this is also depriving Armenia of any
rights to negotiate better gas deals with Iran!
I've been too unhappy with the developments in the country to blog for
much of the past year. But looking at the pompous fireworks of the New
Year makes me want to shut it down for good. Because this is a blog
about the democratic, economic and human development of Armenia and I
see none coming in the coming year.
I guess I should just sit back, relax and enjoy the firkin fireworks!
January 5, 2014 Sunday 11:08 AM EST
Here's to The New Year: The Worst Is Yet To Come
by Artur Papyan
Festive Fireworks on New Year's Eve in Yerevan's Republic Square, 01Jan2014
I'm the most optimistic person I've met in this world. And yet, when
the lavish fireworks broke into Yerevan's arrogant night sky on New
Year's Eve, my heart squeezed with sorrow.
The Armenian authorities are spending 20 milion AMD ($50,000 US) to
celebrate the coming of a year, which in president Serzh Sarkissian's
words [1]will see Armenia become a full member of the Customs Union.
'Armenia is creating a new reality which will make her more protected
and more competitive,' Serzh Sarkissian went on to say defending his
sudden decision to turn away from the world's biggest market and
Armenia's largest trade partners and side with[2] the group of
countries with some of the world's most corrupt and autocratic
regimes.
Sadly though, most people I talked to in the past few days are
embracing the accession into the Russia-led Customs Union as the only
salvation this country has. And they find amazing justifications too:
'no more problems migrating to Russia', 'bringing more Russian troops
to Armenia', 'no more rising of the prices for natural gas' and a
personal favorite of mine: 'Putin will show these bloody oligarchs how
to behave, because he cares more about the people in Armenia than our
current rulers do!' Yep, that's a favorite one, except that I have a
problem with every one of those perceived benefits.
We have got to stop migration from Armenia, not encourage it by
forging ties with Russia. Our brothers (and even my very own sister)
are creating worth for the Russian Empire instead of staying home and
developing our land.
More Russian troops? When we already have enough of them to invade
Yerevan and other key cities in a matter of two hours if Putin decides
he doesn't like what the Armenian authorities are doing!
Not rising the gas prices? But this is also depriving Armenia of any
rights to negotiate better gas deals with Iran!
I've been too unhappy with the developments in the country to blog for
much of the past year. But looking at the pompous fireworks of the New
Year makes me want to shut it down for good. Because this is a blog
about the democratic, economic and human development of Armenia and I
see none coming in the coming year.
I guess I should just sit back, relax and enjoy the firkin fireworks!