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WHAT WAS RUSSIA'S 'BLISS'?
Aravot
March 6 2009
Armenia
Irrespective of high-style words politicians use worldwide when
speaking about principles and justice, the fact is that any politics
is based on deals. And it is not necessary for a deal to be "rational"
and be measured by mere material benefits.
Sometimes, one of the parties to a deal (usually the stronger one)
simply enjoys it, while the other one gets a privileged loan, for
example. It is not necessary for the deal to be immoral either;
there are many sincere and transparent deals. What matters is this:
a political force or a state has something to offer [to someone] and
expects something in return. For example, with the help of abstract
principles it would have been impossible to persuade Vatican or
Christian states to start crusades if it were not for their concrete
political and economic interests. Armenia's first president [Levon
Ter-Petrosyan] writes about this in his book "The Crusaders and
Armenians."
It is sometimes very hard to understand what the parties' interest
in a certain deal is. This is the job of political experts. (However,
they often go to "cookie gardens" [a slang phrase in Armenian meaning
"pretending not to understand the real reasons], so it is difficult
to make anything of their explanations).
As you may have guessed already, I am speaking about the meetings
held in Moscow. It is clear that Russia's close and far friends
were after money, and it should be said that they succeeded in
that. Belarus President Alyaksandr Lukashenka agreed to set up a
joint anti-aircraft defence system with Russia (in response to the
American plans in Eastern Europe), and got 2bn dollars in privileged
loans for that. Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev decided to shut
down the American base near Bishkek and received a super privileged
loan to the tune of 2bn dollars.
These are Russia's "kaifs" [feeling of pleasure] that this country is
ready to pay for despite the growing financial and economic crisis
inside the country. Armenia has received 0.5bn dollars in this
"money giveaway" but it is unclear what we have given or promised
for that. Theories like recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia or
getting in the rouble zone don't seem credible to me. We are waiting
for explanations from analysts.
It is good to get 500m dollars when not expected. For a couple of more
months, we'll sell dollars to "stabilize" dram. Dram will smoothly -
or not so smoothly - plunge at some point anyway. I don't think that an
economic crisis is the worst thing. We have overcome situations worse
than that. When there is lack of information, you begin to think of
bad things. For example, famous Eurasian philosopher Aleksandr Dugin
has said recently that initiating military conflict could help hamper
the Nabucco project. It is clear where, isn't it? Let me just remind
you that Dugin is not a psychopath, neither is he an adventurer. He,
according to some reports, is the Kremlin's chief ideologist.
Aravot
March 6 2009
Armenia
Irrespective of high-style words politicians use worldwide when
speaking about principles and justice, the fact is that any politics
is based on deals. And it is not necessary for a deal to be "rational"
and be measured by mere material benefits.
Sometimes, one of the parties to a deal (usually the stronger one)
simply enjoys it, while the other one gets a privileged loan, for
example. It is not necessary for the deal to be immoral either;
there are many sincere and transparent deals. What matters is this:
a political force or a state has something to offer [to someone] and
expects something in return. For example, with the help of abstract
principles it would have been impossible to persuade Vatican or
Christian states to start crusades if it were not for their concrete
political and economic interests. Armenia's first president [Levon
Ter-Petrosyan] writes about this in his book "The Crusaders and
Armenians."
It is sometimes very hard to understand what the parties' interest
in a certain deal is. This is the job of political experts. (However,
they often go to "cookie gardens" [a slang phrase in Armenian meaning
"pretending not to understand the real reasons], so it is difficult
to make anything of their explanations).
As you may have guessed already, I am speaking about the meetings
held in Moscow. It is clear that Russia's close and far friends
were after money, and it should be said that they succeeded in
that. Belarus President Alyaksandr Lukashenka agreed to set up a
joint anti-aircraft defence system with Russia (in response to the
American plans in Eastern Europe), and got 2bn dollars in privileged
loans for that. Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev decided to shut
down the American base near Bishkek and received a super privileged
loan to the tune of 2bn dollars.
These are Russia's "kaifs" [feeling of pleasure] that this country is
ready to pay for despite the growing financial and economic crisis
inside the country. Armenia has received 0.5bn dollars in this
"money giveaway" but it is unclear what we have given or promised
for that. Theories like recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia or
getting in the rouble zone don't seem credible to me. We are waiting
for explanations from analysts.
It is good to get 500m dollars when not expected. For a couple of more
months, we'll sell dollars to "stabilize" dram. Dram will smoothly -
or not so smoothly - plunge at some point anyway. I don't think that an
economic crisis is the worst thing. We have overcome situations worse
than that. When there is lack of information, you begin to think of
bad things. For example, famous Eurasian philosopher Aleksandr Dugin
has said recently that initiating military conflict could help hamper
the Nabucco project. It is clear where, isn't it? Let me just remind
you that Dugin is not a psychopath, neither is he an adventurer. He,
according to some reports, is the Kremlin's chief ideologist.