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  • Maxim Shevchenko: "Armenia's Accession To The Customs Union Will Hel

    MAXIM SHEVCHENKO: "ARMENIA'S ACCESSION TO THE CUSTOMS UNION WILL HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH"

    Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
    Dec 4 2013

    4 December 2013 - 9:18am

    Interview by Vestnik Kavkaza

    Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Armenia,
    where he once again approved its desire to join the Customs Union
    and the common economic space. According to Putin, "prospects of
    integration cooperation are confirmed by growing complementarity
    of our economies." Russia is a leading foreign trade partner of
    Armenia: its share in trade balance is 23.5%. Last year trade
    turnover increased by more than 20% and reached $1.2 billion. The
    volume of Russian investments surpassed $3 billion - more than 40%
    of all foreign investments into Armenian economy. About 1300 Russian
    companies are working in gas, transport, telecommunication, financial
    spheres of Armenia - more than 25% of all joint enterprises with
    foreign investments.

    However, experts believe it is not enough to integrate. Maxim
    Shevchenko, member of the Presidential Council on International
    Relations, told Vestnik Kavkaza about his view on Eurasian integration
    of Armenia.

    - What do you think about the results of Putin's visit to Armenia
    and its prospects of joining the Customs Union?

    - Frankly, summing it up, of course, it is a political statement,
    because certainly there will be no economic benefit if Armenia joins
    the Customs Union. This is a fully subsidized state, which is among,
    if I am not mistaken, the most catastrophic economies, it is in second
    place from the end or fourth place on the list.

    Therefore it is clear that Armenia will be fully subsidized by the
    Russian Federation, Kazakhstan and other successful countries in
    the Union.

    But there is nothing to worry about, Germany also finances Greece
    in the European Union. At least it will allow Armenian policy, the
    Armenian state, to turn away from U.S. subsidies.

    Today in Armenia, most of the population live simply on grants sent
    by the Armenian diaspora in the U.S. or France. So I think that the
    struggle for Armenia is also an important fight.

    - Can Eurasian integration of Yerevan help in settlement of the
    Nagorno-Karabakh problem?

    - I think that the accession of Armenia, in particular, will help
    to advance the search for a constructive solution to the Karabakh
    issue, which I can see only provided that all refugees can return
    to Nagorno-Karabakh, to Azerbaijan. By the way, I recall that at
    least 400,000 Azerbaijanis also fled Armenia. At least, the return
    of Azerbaijanis to Nagorno-Karabakh and then a referendum, perhaps on
    the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, which will consist of at least
    two peoples. There are, however, also Russians - three peoples will
    be its foundation. The formation of a Caucasian "Switzerland," I do
    not see why not. When France and Germany fought against each other on
    the territory of Switzerland, French-speaking Swiss, German-speaking
    Swiss and Italian-speaking Swiss established mechanisms of democratic
    governance. The structure of Nagorno-Karabakh is also Canton-like.

    There were regions dominated by the Azerbaijanis, there were regions
    dominated by the Armenians. Without the return of all the people who
    would like to go back there, we cannot talk about any recognition of
    Nagorno-Karabakh or discussions of this issue, in my opinion. However,
    postponing it, undoubtedly increases the risk of military conflict.

    http://vestnikkavkaza.net/interviews/politics/48267.html




    From: A. Papazian
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