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ONLY COMMISSARIES ARE ON THE BARRICADES
Golos Armenii, Armenia
Feb 13 2014
a translated excerpt from Ruben Margaryan
On the eve of Yerevan's decision on the accession to the [Russian-led]
Customs Union, an odd dispute unfolded between pro-Westerners and
pro-Eurasians in Armenia. The former maintained that if Armenia joined
the Customs Union it would lose [Nagornyy] Karabakh and the latter
argued no less strongly that Armenia would lose Karabakh in case it
initialled the Association Agreement with the EU. Both sides lied,
of course.
I recalled this because currently, a similar picture can be seen. The
supporters of Armenia's association with the EU argue that the Customs
Union is rather dead than alive, that it is a bluff, and so forth.
Pro-Eurasians maintain the contrary, saying that the Eastern
Partnership project is dead. It is understandable that in the case
of the debate on Karabakh, these are pure speculations.
The Eastern Partnership exists as it existed, its member states are
included in the programme and the EU is in the process of designing
new directions of cooperation. The same applies to the Customs Union,
which still includes three countries. The Customs Union, however,
plans to intensify and widen cooperation between its members and set
up a Eurasian Economic Union on the basis of the Customs Union in
the future. A tangible example of the presence of the Customs Union
for Armenian citizens is that Russia recently removed restrictions
of residence terms on its territory for working migrants, citizens
of the Customs Union member states.
But all this is not relevant to the "commissaries" of the EU or
Customs Union. They will always find a counter argument to speculate
on noisily.
[Passage omitted: Pro-EU and pro- Eurasian groups are wasting people's
energy and time by diverting attention from relevant issues]
These "commissaries", alas, cannot find a better occupation than
attempts at dividing this country into two camps. They are not happy
with the fact that political parties divide people into as many
factions as possible. They now want to add new dividing lines in the
society, as if the Ukrainian experience were not enough.
[Passage omitted: People distrust the media and political analysts]
When we see seemingly reasonable people apparently talking nonsense
[on integration plans], the impression that come to one's mind is that
tomorrow, they might change their sponsors and convert into diehard
supporters of Eurasia or vice versa. Please, Mr Integrators, keep
quiet, the year ahead will be full of political confrontations. You
will find better rostrums for your ambitions!
[Translated from Russian]
Golos Armenii, Armenia
Feb 13 2014
a translated excerpt from Ruben Margaryan
On the eve of Yerevan's decision on the accession to the [Russian-led]
Customs Union, an odd dispute unfolded between pro-Westerners and
pro-Eurasians in Armenia. The former maintained that if Armenia joined
the Customs Union it would lose [Nagornyy] Karabakh and the latter
argued no less strongly that Armenia would lose Karabakh in case it
initialled the Association Agreement with the EU. Both sides lied,
of course.
I recalled this because currently, a similar picture can be seen. The
supporters of Armenia's association with the EU argue that the Customs
Union is rather dead than alive, that it is a bluff, and so forth.
Pro-Eurasians maintain the contrary, saying that the Eastern
Partnership project is dead. It is understandable that in the case
of the debate on Karabakh, these are pure speculations.
The Eastern Partnership exists as it existed, its member states are
included in the programme and the EU is in the process of designing
new directions of cooperation. The same applies to the Customs Union,
which still includes three countries. The Customs Union, however,
plans to intensify and widen cooperation between its members and set
up a Eurasian Economic Union on the basis of the Customs Union in
the future. A tangible example of the presence of the Customs Union
for Armenian citizens is that Russia recently removed restrictions
of residence terms on its territory for working migrants, citizens
of the Customs Union member states.
But all this is not relevant to the "commissaries" of the EU or
Customs Union. They will always find a counter argument to speculate
on noisily.
[Passage omitted: Pro-EU and pro- Eurasian groups are wasting people's
energy and time by diverting attention from relevant issues]
These "commissaries", alas, cannot find a better occupation than
attempts at dividing this country into two camps. They are not happy
with the fact that political parties divide people into as many
factions as possible. They now want to add new dividing lines in the
society, as if the Ukrainian experience were not enough.
[Passage omitted: People distrust the media and political analysts]
When we see seemingly reasonable people apparently talking nonsense
[on integration plans], the impression that come to one's mind is that
tomorrow, they might change their sponsors and convert into diehard
supporters of Eurasia or vice versa. Please, Mr Integrators, keep
quiet, the year ahead will be full of political confrontations. You
will find better rostrums for your ambitions!
[Translated from Russian]