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  • 70% Of Russians Support Eurasian Economic Union

    70% OF RUSSIANS SUPPORT EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION

    Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
    July 4 2014

    4 July 2014 - 11:56am

    By Vestnik Kavkaza

    Yesterday the VCIOM survey on the attitude of Russian citizens toward
    the Eurasian Economic Union was presented in Moscow. According to the
    survey, 70% of Russian citizens view positively the establishment
    of the Eurasian Economic Union. It should be noted that the survey
    was the first in two years that reflected the position of Russian
    society toward the integration processes which are going on in
    the Eurasian economic space. Yulia Yakusheva, the director of the
    political scientific center "North-South," commented on tge results
    of the survey for Vestnik Kavkaza

    - What aspects of the Eurasian Union's activity were touched on by
    the survey?

    - The survey didn't ask the respondents whether they are aware of
    the processes in post-Soviet space or what the essence of Eurasian
    integration is. However, it is clear that Russian citizens view the
    cooperation between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus positively. That's
    why the percentage is high - 70%. The VCIOM considered the ages of
    the respondents. And we can see that the older generation supports the
    idea more than younger people. People aged 18-24 showed less support.

    The results are predictable, as the older generation often misses
    the USSR and cooperation with the post-Soviet states is considered
    to be a revival of the social model, the political model which used
    to exist in the Soviet Union. Of course, young people demand more
    serious motives which will determine the level of their support of
    the integration processes in Eurasia. I think it means we need to
    work with the younger group, first of all in the information sphere.

    Moreover, the survey touched on the issue of a possible capital
    of the Eurasian Economic Union. The question was: "The President of
    Kazakhstan suggested making Yekaterinburg or Astana the capital of the
    Eurasian Union." The majority of the Russians supported Yekaterinburg,
    Moscow took second place, and Astana is only in third place. We see
    that Russian citizens want the capital of the Eurasian Union to be
    in Russia.

    I think the most interesting aspect of the survey is about extension
    of the Eurasian Economic Union. Respondents chose a country of the
    post-Soviet space which could be a potential member of the Eurasian
    Union and its membership would bring maximum benefits to the Union. It
    is interesting that Armenia took first place. It is explainable, as
    Armenia is preparing for accession to the Eurasian Union. It seems
    Russian citizens orient toward the information space, toward the
    information that Armenia is ready to join the organization. Azerbaijan
    is in second place. And it's a surprise, as Azerbaijan hasn't agreed
    to join the Eurasian Union. As you know, at the moment Azerbaijan is
    considering various forms of cooperation with the Union, but nobody
    speaks about its membership. It means Russian citizens view positively
    Azerbaijan as a member of the Eurasian Union, because it is the most
    developed country in the region. Ukraine got only 10% of support and
    turned out to be lower than Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in the rating
    of potential members. It seems the information space influences the
    attitude. Mass media messages show that Ukraine is aimed at Europe
    in its foreign policy and doesn't plan to join the EaEU.

    - Have similar surveys been conducted in other countries participating
    in the process?

    - I have no information on results in Belarus. I know that
    Kazakhstan conducts many such surveys. They were not always
    organized by social structures, but we can sum up certain results. In
    Kazakhstan common citizens, experts, and analysts follow development
    of integration processes in the Eurasian space attentively, as they
    believe that establishment of the EaEU is crucial for their foreign
    policy. Results of their surveys are similar to the Russian one. The
    level of support for the EaEU in Kazakhstan is 55-85%. 55% were the
    results of a recent survey which was conducted on the internet. It
    means that the level of support for integration processes among users
    of the internet is not high. 85% were the results of the KISI survey
    (Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the
    Republic), it really reflects attitudes in the society. In Kazakhstan
    a question on awareness of the EaEU's activity was asked. 85% of
    Kazakhstan citizens know what the EaEU is. The high level of support
    of integration processes is connected with economic prospects.

    However, 7% of Kazakhstan's citizens are afraid of political dependence
    on Russia. I think this is connected with the lack of information on
    the EaEU, even in the expert community. Nobody emphasizes that all
    sides will have equal rights and powers in the Union, the countries
    will have an equal number of votes in making decisions. There is no
    sense in thinking about Russia's dominance.

    Moreover, there will be no political institutes in the EaEU. This is
    an economic union, in which the interests of all participants will
    be considered.

    - Has a survey been conducted in Armenia?

    - Yes, it has. I don't know whether the survey was held last
    month. According to my information, 86% of Armenian citizens support
    joining the EaEU. We can say that public opinion in Armenia is
    pro-Russian and pro-Eurasian.

    - One of the advantages of such a space is an opportunity to travel
    within the space freely. Are such questions included in the survey?

    - Unfortunately, the survey didn't focus on the advantages which
    Russian citizens could get after establishment of the EaEU. Probably
    an opportunity to work in Belarus and Kazakhstan was mentioned there,
    but the issue is not covered. According to the survey, the question
    is important for Kazakhstan - about 22% of respondents positively
    view the opportunity to work in Russia and free movement of goods,
    services, capital and labor force.

    http://vestnikkavkaza.net/analysis/society/57248.html



    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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