What does Moscow anticipate from Serzh Sargsyan’s team?
“Armenia and Russia have reached a serious level of understanding both with Armenia’s president and the incumbent PM, as well as the Defense Minister of Armenia,” Andrey Areshev, Expert at the Strategic Culture Foundation, political scientist, told 168.am, introducing results of president Sargsyan’s two-day visit to Moscow.
Ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia in the framework of his official two-day visit to the Russian Federation, where president Serzh Sargsyan along with several representative meetings , had negotiations with the RF president Vladimir Putin. Receiving Serzh Sargsyan in the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, recording that the meeting is taking place in the background of the preparation for big domestic political events in Armenia—parliamentary elections, he stated that the process isn’t easy, however, “I am sure, under your leadership, Armenia will pass this stage of its development. I wish you success,” which was qualified by Armenian and Russian experts as Moscow’s support to the incumbent RPA in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
According to Areshev president Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to Moscow has big importance from the perspective of strengthening both Armenia-Russia, as well as economic and military-political relations. According to the analyst, undoubtedly, on account of the Constitutional change in Armenia, the visit has certain importance in that regard as well, as after April 2 president’s figure won’t have the same importance, as it has today, and the National Assembly and the Government will have a top position in Armenia’s political field.
“It isn’t yet clear to me how the process will take place. It’s also obvious, that the issue was covered during Putin-Sargsyan negotiations as well, it was reflected in the statement by Russian president Vladimir Putin, who wished success to his Armenian counterpart in that complicated job. It seems to me that bilateral relations in the recent period have rather diversified and progressive nature. Armenia-Russia relations include active talks on the level of parliament, national security councils, ministries. You know that recently rather noteworthy mutual visits have been recorded.
Thus, I consider here a dialogue is launched in several directions on a rather serious level, there is also a essential predictability in the steps of the sides. On the whole, I’m sure, bilateral relations won’t bear serious changes in the future on account of mutual understanding, conditions of mutual talks, which exist today,” Areshev said.
Asked to which extent this visit may be observed as support to the leading RPA in the upcoming elections, the Russian analyst said he won’t cover such categories. According to him, in Russia and in Armenia quite varying opinions were expressed on the essence of Constitutional change, including rather skeptical ones. However, in his words, Constitutional change is the internal affair of Armenia, as an independent state, they aren’t peculiar changes for Armenia, as well as in the post-Soviet space. The expert reminded that such changes have been undertaken in Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine.
“On account of implications of those changes opinions may be expressed, however, in any case, those reforms are motivated, rather serious, Armenia’s authorities have introduced rather serious arguments in favor of changes. Naturally, this is perceived by Russia, at the same time, Russia’s president expressed an opinion that Russia is interested in Armenia’s stability, predictability. Obviously, those changes will have their positive role here as well,” Areshev said.
Reflecting to favorites in Armenia’s election campaign, Andrey Areshev said Armenia and Russia have reached a rather serious level of understanding on the level of both the president and the incumbent PM, as well as the Defense Minister, who prior to Serzh Sargsyan paid visits to Moscow.
“As you know, those people have a rather serious role in the team of the leading Republican party, we know, that Serzh Sargsyan made statements, if RPA wins in the upcoming elections, Karen Karapetyan will continue heading the Government. There are other serious actors as well, from which I’d like to state Gagik Tsarukyan, who has serious business ties with Russia. However, you know, that in January several businessmen living in Armenia, made a statement, that they support reforms of Armenia’s president and the Government. I think activity of Armenia’s Government, the leadership has taken a positive direction, it’s noticed, in Moscow it’s also worthily perceived, that activity is accepted on the level of mutual understanding,” Areshev hinted.
By Araks Martirosyan
