Russia’s New Threat—War or Sovereignty
“Haykakan Zhamanak” newspaper wrote that Vahram Baghdasaryan, head of RA NA RPA Faction, touching upon engagement with CSTO air defense united system at the National Assembly, didn’t exclude, that armaments to be provided by Russia upon USD 200 million loan will appear in the territory of Armenia after that. “It’s not preferable speaking of it, however, I think what was agreed in Armenia will appear in logical terms,” Vahram Baghdasaryan said.
This piece of information is too close to the reality. It’s close not because it was stated by head of Armenia’s leading Parliamentary faction (with the same success that official can also provide information far from the reality, as it has been repeatedly recorded), but for the purpose, that it fits into the crippled logic of Armenia-Russia relations. And essence of those relations is that Russia fulfills not its contractual responsibilities of a strategic ally before Armenia, but appears as a strategic looter.
It takes what is possible and what Russia needs. Promising…to implement liabilities upon interstate accord, which it fails to exercise for about a year. There is almost nothing valuable in Armenia, which Russia didn’t take throughout previous years. Now it’s the turn of the military component of sovereignty. Now Russia is taking Armenia’s sovereignty to make decisions in the field of air defense, tomorrow will take the missile defense system, and some period later—the artillery, and one nice day—the whole army. Formulations will always be found.
Collective Security Treaty Organization—CSTO, in fact, was established for that very purpose: to subordinate security systems of member countries by various formulations under Russia’s control.
While touching upon taking any system by Russia, the expression “they give” should be equally applied. As at least nobody publicly threatened Armenia’s officials, didn’t issue an ultimatum. The agreement on joining the air defense united system was discussed last week at the National Assembly and was approved under ordinary working atmosphere, broadcast online, where nobody seemed to be threatened with a gun, fortunately, nothing happened to MPs voting against. This means, it’s happening upon the will and immediate participation of Armenia’s authorities and politicians. And if threats are heard by the Russian side, they should tell about it publicly, and ask for protection from the Armenian society. However, this won’t occur, as they consider themselves reporting not before the Armenian society, but before Russian establishment. Thus, even if nobody threatens them, they’ll take any step necessary for Russia instinctively out of internal fear and servility.
However, it’s more dangerous, that adoption of that agreement was introduced by Russia as a condition for provision of armaments to Armenia. Russia doesn’t donate those armaments to Armenia, but provides by loan. Yes, it provides for a considerably cheaper price, than to other countries. However, it’s also conditioned by Armenia’s membership to CSTO. Thus, provision of armaments to Armenia formally is an issue of interstate relations, which Russia doesn’t settle.
Accordingly, if there is an issue of demanding something, then it’s only of Armenia’s authorities, to demand from Russia to implement its interstate liabilities not by threatening, but informing, that in case of non-implementation Armenia will apply formal procedures up to discussing the appropriateness of membership to the Organization, that one of the members is not exercising its responsibilities.
Otherwise, this may become a precedent to seize anything from Armenia for armaments supply. Armaments upon USD 200 million loan will be consumed, in particular, when Russia continues to punctually sell armaments to Azerbaijan, simultaneously taking such political steps that in near future that weapon shot again. And this means, that for any batch of armaments Armenia will have to implement any caprice by Russia with adoption of a new agreement ignoring Armenia’s interests or other manifestations.
It’s not excluded either that Russians threatened, that in case of non-adoption of those agreements, they will not only refuse to supply armaments upon UD 200 million loan, but this time again they’ll remind through Azerbaijan of Armenia’s lack of armaments. In that case, moreover, Armenia’s authorities should take appropriate steps and reconstruct relations with Russia the way they relate with countries threatening with war.
The agreement will be discussed in the National Assembly in the forthcoming days. The MPs have the opportunity to vote against, showing they are not going to stamp another document enslaving Armenia.
Otherwise together with that agreement, they may adopt another list as well, which will include what they are ready to withdraw to Russia. In that list the building of RA National Assembly with its garden may be included as well.
By Robert Ter-Sargsyan
