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ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS DISCUSS SOUTH CAUCASIAN SECURITY
Lilit Gevorgyan
World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
April 21 2010
Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan and his Russian counterpart Dmitry
Medvedev met on 20 April for the third time this year. The meeting
agenda was focused on the security issues of the Southern Caucasus.
Sargsyan, invited by Medvedev to the Russian capital Moscow, reiterated
his country's commitment to promoting the two peace protocols signed
in October 2009 between Armenia and Turkey aimed at normalisation of
bilateral ties of the two neighbours. The Armenian president also
expressed his country's hopes to see only a peaceful resolution
to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan. Medvedev backed
his Armenian colleague's stance and also promised to work closely
with Armenia on a string of issues, including political and economic
co-operation. The two parties agreed to continue the bilateral dialogue
during Medvedev's upcoming visit to Armenia.
Significance:Armenia remains Russia's most important and loyal ally
in the Southern Caucasus. Successive Armenian governments' drive to
ensure close relations with powerful Russia has been determined by
mostly security and economic reasons. Armenia, sandwiched between
hostile Azerbaijan and Turkey, has traditionally seen Russia as a
guarantor for its security. Unsurprisingly, following its declaration
of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia asked Russia
to maintain its military bases in the country and also along the
Armenian-Turkish border. With the increased military presence,
Russia has also increased its commercial ties with Armenia. Growing
Russian economic presence is also aided by the fact that many foreign
investors are wary of investing in Armenia, which is still locked in
low-intensity conflict with neighbouring Azerbaijan over the latter's
Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh region. Russia has filled this
vacuum by acquiring stakes in most of the Armenian energy and telecom
companies. Moscow has also extended a US$500-million emergency loan
to the crisis-stricken Armenian economy in 2009. Russia is set to
maintain both its political and economic influence over Armenia,
which is currently too weak to opt for another path of development.
Lilit Gevorgyan
World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
April 21 2010
Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan and his Russian counterpart Dmitry
Medvedev met on 20 April for the third time this year. The meeting
agenda was focused on the security issues of the Southern Caucasus.
Sargsyan, invited by Medvedev to the Russian capital Moscow, reiterated
his country's commitment to promoting the two peace protocols signed
in October 2009 between Armenia and Turkey aimed at normalisation of
bilateral ties of the two neighbours. The Armenian president also
expressed his country's hopes to see only a peaceful resolution
to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan. Medvedev backed
his Armenian colleague's stance and also promised to work closely
with Armenia on a string of issues, including political and economic
co-operation. The two parties agreed to continue the bilateral dialogue
during Medvedev's upcoming visit to Armenia.
Significance:Armenia remains Russia's most important and loyal ally
in the Southern Caucasus. Successive Armenian governments' drive to
ensure close relations with powerful Russia has been determined by
mostly security and economic reasons. Armenia, sandwiched between
hostile Azerbaijan and Turkey, has traditionally seen Russia as a
guarantor for its security. Unsurprisingly, following its declaration
of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia asked Russia
to maintain its military bases in the country and also along the
Armenian-Turkish border. With the increased military presence,
Russia has also increased its commercial ties with Armenia. Growing
Russian economic presence is also aided by the fact that many foreign
investors are wary of investing in Armenia, which is still locked in
low-intensity conflict with neighbouring Azerbaijan over the latter's
Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh region. Russia has filled this
vacuum by acquiring stakes in most of the Armenian energy and telecom
companies. Moscow has also extended a US$500-million emergency loan
to the crisis-stricken Armenian economy in 2009. Russia is set to
maintain both its political and economic influence over Armenia,
which is currently too weak to opt for another path of development.