Tweet
Allow Riots Happen in Armenia
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments27542.html
Published: 16:55:54 - 28/09/2012
The European perspective of Armenia has been smoothly delayed for a
year. The Association Agreement was first said to be signed by the end
of 2012. Now they mention 2013 with possible extension.
Domestic policy and geopolitics interfere in the relations between
Armenia and Europe. On the one hand, the Armenian leadership is
interested in cooperation with Europe, especially that it gets a lot
of money for that. Besides, the Armenian government is apparently
using the kind relations with Europe for a light blackmail of Moscow
and reduction of dependence on Russia.
Europe treats the relations with Armenia not in the narrow scope of
domestic issues but in a geopolitical scope. Europe wants to
strengthen its foothold in Armenia firmly and irreversibly and have
Armenia face Europe, with its back to Russia. However, either this
wish is not strong enough or Europe is not ready to pay a high price
for Armenia's change of geopolitical orientation. Anyway, Brussels
does not pull the string tight.
The EU commissioners appear in Armenia whenever real threat of
ratification of basic documents with Russia occurs. Prime Minister
Sargsyan takes part in the CIS council of prime ministers where he may
be swayed to sign something, and immediately the EU commissioner for
enlargement Stefan Fule arrives in Armenia and signs an agreement on a
43 million euro grant.
The IMF promises another 52 million euros by the end of this year,
thereby hinting that it will not allow Yerevan turn to Russia for
assistance. In addition, neither the EU nor the IMF have announced
large-scale programs in Armenia which first would solve the issue of
Armenia's orientation once and for ever, and second, change the
business climate in Armenia.
In the end, it is obvious that the current Armenian authorities are
not able to implement deep reforms. All the money paid for reforms is
spent by the government to pay social benefits and prevent riots. If
Europe wants to change Armenia, it should either stop providing
assistance and let people riot and remove the government or launch
large-scale programs to shape a business and political climate in
Armenia.
However, politics is not a single decision but a process which must
mature enough for every next step. Apparently, Armenia is not mature
yet.
In fact, similar processes are going on in other post-Soviet states
with which Europe is cooperating idly. Europe is waiting for decisive
action by the leadership of these countries, while the leadership of
these countries hopes for more deciding actions by Europe.
The results are still zero.
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments27542.html
Published: 16:55:54 - 28/09/2012
The European perspective of Armenia has been smoothly delayed for a
year. The Association Agreement was first said to be signed by the end
of 2012. Now they mention 2013 with possible extension.
Domestic policy and geopolitics interfere in the relations between
Armenia and Europe. On the one hand, the Armenian leadership is
interested in cooperation with Europe, especially that it gets a lot
of money for that. Besides, the Armenian government is apparently
using the kind relations with Europe for a light blackmail of Moscow
and reduction of dependence on Russia.
Europe treats the relations with Armenia not in the narrow scope of
domestic issues but in a geopolitical scope. Europe wants to
strengthen its foothold in Armenia firmly and irreversibly and have
Armenia face Europe, with its back to Russia. However, either this
wish is not strong enough or Europe is not ready to pay a high price
for Armenia's change of geopolitical orientation. Anyway, Brussels
does not pull the string tight.
The EU commissioners appear in Armenia whenever real threat of
ratification of basic documents with Russia occurs. Prime Minister
Sargsyan takes part in the CIS council of prime ministers where he may
be swayed to sign something, and immediately the EU commissioner for
enlargement Stefan Fule arrives in Armenia and signs an agreement on a
43 million euro grant.
The IMF promises another 52 million euros by the end of this year,
thereby hinting that it will not allow Yerevan turn to Russia for
assistance. In addition, neither the EU nor the IMF have announced
large-scale programs in Armenia which first would solve the issue of
Armenia's orientation once and for ever, and second, change the
business climate in Armenia.
In the end, it is obvious that the current Armenian authorities are
not able to implement deep reforms. All the money paid for reforms is
spent by the government to pay social benefits and prevent riots. If
Europe wants to change Armenia, it should either stop providing
assistance and let people riot and remove the government or launch
large-scale programs to shape a business and political climate in
Armenia.
However, politics is not a single decision but a process which must
mature enough for every next step. Apparently, Armenia is not mature
yet.
In fact, similar processes are going on in other post-Soviet states
with which Europe is cooperating idly. Europe is waiting for decisive
action by the leadership of these countries, while the leadership of
these countries hopes for more deciding actions by Europe.
The results are still zero.