Sunday, August 24, 2008

Independent for 18 years.

On August 23, 1990, Aram Manukian read the text of the Declaration of Independence in front of the whole nation. It was clear then that the fight for independence, which we had been waging since the 60-s (and especially intensely since 1988), was unstoppable.

But now Armenia is almost as much of a Russian colony as it was during the Soviets. All the major decisions are, if not made but at least, approved by the Kremlin bosses. The Armenian president has become some kind of a governor appointed by the Russians. The Russians even have the audacity to declare Armenia a 'Russian outpost' in the Caucasus. This was not done by some crackhead like Zhirinovsky but it was announced by a high ranking Russian official during a meeting with the then president Robert Kocharian. So, as far as the Russians are concerned, Armenia is not sovereign and is not a state.

What is the solution out of this?

I do not see any easy solutions. A large chunk of the Armenian GDP, that includes the more or less important players of the Armenian economy, is generated by the Russians (the latest Russian acquisition were the cement factories in Hrazdan). The Armenian borders are controlled by the Russians. The anchors of the state TV Haylur program speak with Russian accents. The Russification of Armenia is in full swing.

The future is bleak indeed.

5 comments:

Ani said...

I agree it's grim. A few things to note, though. 1) The spotlight is finally shining again on the Caucasus; things that thrive in shadows don't do well in the light. 2) When the pendulum swings so far one way, it simply has to start swinging back. 3) Now that the Russians have made their intentions quite clear, some (like Belarus) are starting to back away very slowly. Let's hope the Armenian powers-that-be are doing some serious thinking as well.

Haik said...

Էրդողանն օգոստոսի 11-ին հանդես Է եկել «Կովկասյան միություն» ստեղծելու նախաձեռնությամբ,որը նպատակամղված Է տարածաշրջանի իրադրության կայունացմանը եւ նախատեսում Է միությանը ինչպես տարածաշրջանի երկրների, այնպես Էլ Ռուսաստանի, ԱՄՆ-ի եւ Թուրքիայի մասնակցությունը:

«Հնգակողմ պլատֆորմին մասնակցելու հարցի շուրջ բանակցություններ կանցկացվեն Հայաստանի հետ: Այս շաբաթ մեր արտաքին գործերի նախարարը (Ալի Բաբաջանը) բանակցություններ կվարի ՌԴ-ի արտաքին գործերի նախարարի հետ, որոնց ընթացքում կորոշվի Հայաստանի հետ երկխոսության ձեւաչափը»,-նշել Է Էրդողանը:

Haik said...

There is no more free and independent Armenia. No more!

Unknown said...

The only way south Caucasian republics may survive independence is in their unity. Yes, it sounds so unrealistic and curios, but it is true. What can unite these 3 republics? Only prosperity. The European Union claims that they also share European culture and mentality. I doubt it will matter without prosperity. The distribution of wealth is very uneven in Caucasus. However if Azerbaijan ever understands that it can not sell its oil only relying on Georgia and Turkey, if Georgia ever understands that it can not gain independence, while behaving as a little empire itself, and without providing Armenia with comfort of access to the world without direct dependence from Russia or Turkey, if Armenia understands that can not eternally be dependent on Russia for its security and serve as a outpost for Russia to dominate its neighbors, then Caucasian union independent republics may become an island of prosperity. When people thrive economically they tend to neglect religious and national differences. It even becomes a source of even more richness.
The region will have its own diversified energy resources, will take advantage of its strategic position on east-west and north-south trade routs, have excellent tourism potential and educated population to use and advance technology. The only lacking thing is GOOD WILL of bunch of IDIOTS who govern these countries.

Anonymous said...

This sounds like Lenin and Stalin mulling over how to save the regions...All power to the Caucasian collective farms!!

I knew the Levonakans were anachronistic and backward, but yikes!! - caveman political maturity upon us.