Boyajian: Is Russia Really Armenia’s Ally?

106 Comments

1. I guess Armenia should return all the weaponry and 200 million dollars worth of credit it got from Russia back in Feb. As far as the whole NATO thing, worked really well in Ukraine. Caaaan’t wait to see what they’ll do in Armenia.

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2. I’d like to proffer an expression of my profound regret to the author at his publishing perhaps the most dilettante opinion piece that I’ve ever encountered in the blogosphere written by an Armenian. It is full of geopolitical naiveté, detachment from reality, and heavy pro-Western tilt in a situation when the only guarantor of the Republic of Armenia’s security—now and in foreseeable future—is Russia, and not the West which is not even present in the region.

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3. While David Boyajian’s analysis makes sense, whose fault is it that for decades Armenia has become totally dependent on other countries. If not Russia another country. Does it matter which? The alternate government will keep the leaders corrupt to run the place no better than Russia. Wake up Armenia. Rather than sell mineral rights, precious land for dams, and all other rights to foreign companies or individuals, make the country’s resources work for the country and the people. Let us not blame others for taking care of their own.

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4. It is very very sad, the Armenians know well
   everything,but the question is what can we do.
   Garo

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5. NATO and EU, how did it work for Georgia. Georgia today is on it’s way to total Turkification, I wonder if they will speak their mother tongue in 20 to 30 years. Armenia has a choice on who they chose to be strategic or economic partners with and it chose Russia.

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6. Very good and informative article. I agree.

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7. I could shred this pearl of geopolitics to bits with counterarguments and evidence to the contrary. However, there are so many blunders, and unsubstantiated allegations in it, that I’d rather take mercy on myself…

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8. I can’t think of anything good that Russia would get from Azerbaijan that is worth betraying Armenia.
   Azeris are Turkic and Muslim, and allies with Turkey.
   Azeris will always hate and fight Russians, just like Turks do.
   Putin seems to be a confused man.

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9. There is a thing called “geopolitics” that Armenians, due to their emotions, arrogance and political illiteracy, almost always fail to properly understand. Allow me to therefore try to explain a few things in as few words as possible.

   Oil rich Baku has the money to purchase anything it wants from whoever it wants. Yerevan does not have that luxury. Moscow wants to keep leverage over Yerevan and Baku, as well keep the military balance between the two. Moscow will therefore sell Baku what Baku wants and give Armenia what Armenia needs. Russian officials also know that if they do not sell arms to Baku, there are a number of nations – like Israel, Turkey, Ukraine and China – that will. In fact, Israeli-made weapons proved most destructive during the four day war. Moscow wants leverage over Baku. Moscow wants military parity in the region. Moreover, Moscow is trying hard to keep Baku within its orbit essentially because it does not want to see Azerbaijan turn into yet another hotbed of pan-Turkic and Islamic extremism right on its border. In the big picture, this is in Armenia’s long-term interests.

   Russia is not abandoning Armenia (or even Artsakh). Russia continues to be Armenia’s one and only ally. Russia continues to protect Armenia’s borders with Turkey, allowing Armenia to concentrate its resources its border with Azerbaijan. That Armenian officials are squandering the task of properly fortifying Armenia’s and Artsakh’s borders with Azerbaijan due to graft and embezzlement of financial resources is all together another topic of discussion. That said, if there are problems or flaws in Moscow geostrategic vision towards the region, Armenians need to stop throwing temper-tantrums like little emotional children and figure out a way to work with their Russian counterparts to fix the problems that may exist. Our leaders cannot do this by enabling Armenia’s Western operatives or by running off to Western capitols to complain about Moscow.

   Armenians need to embark upon a serious effort to lobby Russian officials. Armenians better realize that the Western world will never provide Armenia with the kind of security it need. Armenians better realize that the West can never be an alternative to Russia. Armenia will not survive the south Caucasus alone. Armenia therefore needs Russia. We as a people therefore need to wake-up and understand all this and figure out ways to more efficiently lobby Russian officials. In other words, we as a people have the desperate need to mature politically. I’m afraid maturing as a people may be a long and bumpy road for us Armenians. I just hope we don’t lose our statehood along the way.

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10. “Rebalancing Armenian-Russian relations must begin with large and continuing protests against Russian betrayals, similar to the pro-Artsakh demonstrations of the late 1980’s. Moscow will respect this. Moscow does not respect people who, while being kicked in the teeth by a “friend,” pretend that they’re being kissed on the lips.”

    Precisely my point that I made a few days ago under the ” Hundreds in Yerevan Protest Russian Arms Sales to Azerbaijan” topic. Yesterday there was a second anti-Russian protest. However, protests by a few hundred youths are not going to be enough. We would need more sizeable protests like the Electric Yerevan protests that really worried the Russians and resulted in some concessions.

    I believe that Armenian-Russian relations can be salvaged. Let’s not forget that we won the first Karabakh war with generous amounts of Russian weapons, a lot of it given to us for free. That was a weaker Russia and parity was easier to achieve. Now that Russia is led by Putin and has become a lot more assertive and stronger while Armenia has not seen similar growth over the years, it is natural to expect a more uneven relationship. But it is definitely worth giving a shot at salvaging the relationship, it’s not too late. Putin understands the language of strength and brute force while cozying up to it, or what I call the foreign policy of a doormat that the Armenian authorities have been conducting in recent years does not deserve respect especially by a bully like Putin. Putting all of our energy supply and infrastructure, and defense in Putin’s hands is a terribly bad policy. We are paying the price for it with the lives of our young soldiers and lost positions in the front line.

    I believe what Armenia needs to do in order to restore a more balanced and beneficial relationship with Russia is to exert measured pressure on it. Protests are only one component of it. Armenia should demonstrably start a search for alternative strategic allies. The candidates for that are Iran, China and even NATO. It should be partly bluffing and partly real in case it proves to be impossible to bring Russia back to actual partnership and we end up needing a plan B. This diplomatic game must be played with utmost care. One thing we absolutely want to avoid is send Russia away before finding replacement strategic partner(s).

    There are calls by the demonstrators and some political analysts in Armenia to cut off all ties with Russia and kick out their military basis. As protest rhetoric that’s fine to say, but it’s not something we should even think about pursuing at this moment. Even if we cancel our military pact with Russia I highly doubt they will be in a hurry to clean up the military base in Gyumri. We should remember how hard it was for Georgia to get rid of Yeltsin’s military bases despite the agreements to do so. Now imagine how much harder it should be to do the same with Putin’s troops…

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    • {Armenia should demonstrably start a search for alternative strategic allies. The candidates for that are Iran, China and even NATO.}

      Armenia has already done such a search when sadly-remembered Vartan Oskanian conducted his utopian foreign policy of complementarity. The “good” thing about this foreign policy was that it has revealed that no one—neither Iran nor China nor NATO—had offered herself as an alternative strategic ally of Armenia. How NATO can be a “strategic ally” to a former Soviet republic was exemplified by events in Georgia and Ukraine. No, thank you, keep NATO to yourself. Please…

      As for Iran and China, Iran is too cautious a player to side openly with any regional country, while China, although generally supportive of Armenia, maintains defensive posture in her foreign policy in order to allow focus on her domestic challenges, and therefore is unlikely to step in an area of traditionally Russian interests.

    • {Even if we cancel our military pact with Russia I highly doubt they will be in a hurry to clean up the military base in Gyumri. We should remember how hard it was for Georgia to get rid of Yeltsin’s military bases despite the agreements to do so. Now imagine how much harder it should be to do the same with Putin’s troops…}

      Please list one or more countries, other than Russia, that have the geostrategic interest, the will, and the military ability to stop the inevitable invasion of RoA by NATO member Turkey, as soon as you and your BarevaCadre buddies succeed “…to get rid of Putin’s military bases….” in Armenia.
      In case people believe the Turk invasion threat is hyperbole, a little reminder from not too distant past: in 1993, as NKR military was chasing the Turkbaijani invaders out of historic Armenian lands, Turkey assembled an army at the border of RoA threatening to invade.

      So who was it that counter-threatened Turkey with WW3, if they crossed the RoA border:
      France? Nope.
      UK? Nope.
      US? Are you kidding?
      ……
      Yes: it was thems evil Rooosians, again. CIS head Shaposhnikov told Tancu Ciller that if Turks crossed Arax river, WW3 would start.
      Turks got the message, and ran back to their barracks.
      NKR military continued wiping out invaders and ended up where they are today: on the Arax river border with Iran.

      Now then, in addition to the military aspect, also cite the specific country or countries that will:
      1.Supply RoA and NKR with natural gas at below market prices.
      2.Supply RoA’s NPP with the nuclear fuel. Note: NPP supplies 40% of RoA electricity needs.
      3.Supply RoA , and by extension NKR, with heavy weaponry, including long range tactical missiles that can hit Baku, at below market rates, and oftentimes free of charge.

      There are several other requirements that the potential replacement of Russia must meet, but let’s see how you do with the above list.

    • Bringing up NATO, Iran and China as alternatives to Russia shows just how little Sassoun understands about geopolitics. Granted he says, we can “bluff” to make Russians think we are serious. LOL Maybe Sassoun does not realize that NATO has destroyed Libya, Ukraine and Syria. Maybe he doesn’t even know that Turkey is also a NATO member. Maybe he doesn’t realize that China is in no shape to impact Caucasian geopolitics anytime int he foreseeable future. And speaking of Iran,I have yet to see an Iranian official at the genocide memorial, and weren’t they a bit too quiet during the war? More on Iran:

      Vardan Voskanyan: Obviously Azerbaijan is ahead of us in three areas in Iran: http://www.panorama.am/en/news/2016/04/23/Vardan-Voskanyan/1567871

    • John, Avery and Harutik, you are quite a conservative-reactionary bunch with a linear thinking. Please remember that foreign policy is not an area of rigid dogmas such as your thoughts and opinions suggest, but an area of nuance, uncertainty, creative thinking, bluffing, and a whole bunch of other tactics. Go back in history and remember that Russia has actually abandoned Armenia when there was trouble at home. Now there seems to be a danger of Russia abandoning us perhaps partially and supporting our enemy. When you call yourself a strategic ally you should expect tangible support from your ally. When you see that is not happening that should trigger an adequate reaction and specific steps to address the situation. What I see from the three of you is a vicious defense of mistaken policies. What I am suggesting is Armenia should employ various tactics to bring Russia back, or to find out that’s not possible, plan other steps to fill the vacuum of strategic partnership. Who says that we can’t have alliance with Russia, Iran and China at the same time? An ally does not have to be the only ally!

      Iran – please take a note, after the sanctions removal Iran is a lot more free than a few months ago, and Azerbaijan’s growing military ties with Israel make it a natural ally of Armenia
      China – growing world power, and friendly to Armenia indeed. By some reports China provided Armenia with a weapons system equivalent to Smerch – for free. Armenian defense officials did not confirm or deny these reports. I believe such cooperation can certainly grow if Armenia makes efforts.

      NATO – (Read my other post on West and Russia unwritten agreement). Greece and Turkey somehow manage to be part of it while being enemies. Turkey does not invade Turkey or vice a versa. While NATO is a long shot, I don’t see why it’s not possible for Armenia, especially if oil prices continue falling or remain low for a very long time and Russia decides to retreat, or some other scenario…

      Armenian-Russian defense agreement – yes, it does not cover Artsakh, but Armenia’s borders have been repeatedly shelled and bombed with casualties and damage to border villages. Russia has not condemned Azerbaijan or said anything that an ally should. Instead, Russia sold weapons to Azerbaijan by which our borders were attacked!

      Complementary policy – there is nothing substantially new that Vardan Oskanyan has invented. What it means one can have multiple partners some of which may be rivals. Nothing really new, it can be beneficial if you play it right. It allows for larger independence for small countries like Armenia.

    • A couple of typos:

      – “vicious defense” should read “visceral defense”
      – “Turkey does not invade Turkey or vice a versa” should read ” Turkey does not invade Greece or vice a versa”

    • {John, Avery and Harutik, you are quite a conservative-reactionary bunch with a linear thinking. Please remember that foreign policy is not an area of rigid dogmas such as your thoughts and opinions suggest, but an area of nuance, uncertainty, creative thinking, bluffing, and a whole bunch of other tactics.}

      Sassoun Kosian,

      Not one of these three posters ever allowed himself to hurl an insult at you. In case you don’t understand, it’s rude to stigmatize a group of people as “reactionary bunch”. Please remember that when a debater descends so low as to insult another debater, it can only mean that he knows he’s lost the argument.

      This said, please save your intimate knowledge of foreign policy for a group of kindergarten children. Take my advice, exercise caution when lecturing those early developing kids, because perhaps even kindergarten kids would know that in shaping foreign policy, three major factors play role:
      (a) domestic considerations;
      (b) the behavior of other states; and
      (c) the primacy of geography and external threats (in my humble opinion as a hoi polloi in contrast to your expert opinion, it is the defining factor in RoA’s case).

      It is in consideration of all the above-mentioned factors that several debaters here argue for the RoA’s alliance with Russia at this historical juncture. If it is to change in the future, only the future can tell. If you have the Chrystal Ball inherited from Nostradamus, do please gaze into it and let us know. If you have the list of countries that are impatiently waiting to readily replace Russia as Armenia’s strategic ally, establish military bases on RoA’s soil, extend full membership to a military alliance, sell arms at below market prices or often give for free, supply Armenia and NK with oil, natural gas, and nuclear fuel, and open vast markets for Armenian products, do please let us know.

      Thank you.

    • Dear John,

      I am sorry that you feel insulted but I don’t believe I have insulted any of the three of you. And yes, all three of you maintain the same unreasonable reactionary line of thinking which I tried to point out. Even RA officials and propagandists do not defend their flawed policies as strongly as the three of you. If you think pointing it out is an insult so be it. I care more about the truth than anything else.

      Peace.
      Sassoon

    • I think calling a group of—unrelated and unacquainted—people “bunch” is an insult, and not pointing out your position on an issue.

      And peace to you, too.

      john

    • [And what I’m really reiterating is that Armenia has already attempted to move towards having multiple alliances. In the 1990s-early 2000s, Armenian foreign minister conducted his ill-fated policy of complementarity, an inter-relation of reciprocity, as he thought, whereby one element supplemented the other thus providing equal opportunities for all external powers with divergent interests to engage in Armenia. Again, the conduct of that policy has revealed that no other external power—except Russia—had offered herself as a strategic ally of Armenia, with NATO offering the RoA only the Partnership for Peace level of cooperation. Now, you keep really proposing, and I’ll keep really reiterating… At the end, there is no escaping the fact.]

      Successive Armenian illegitimate governments gave too much economic leverage to Russia, in part due to naive beliefs, and in part due to their selfish interests to fill the domestic gap of legitimacy with Russian support. An important objective factor is also, as I mentioned before, Putin’s growing power and the attempt to restore Russia’s dominance around the region, in which he has largely succeeded. The combined effect is that Armenia has too much dependence on Russia and it’s now harder to get out of Russian dominance. But it’s not too late and it’s certainly possible – which I have made abundantly clear is the position I maintain. The multilateral policy appears to have failed not because it is inherently wrong but because it was not played well. It has to be combined with economic diversity. Again, too much economic leverage was given to Russia. Of course, someone like Putin used and abused that leverage to nearly bring Armenia to it’s knees.

      On Cyprus – I am not arguing that NATO membership enables Greece to help Cyprus. I am arguing that NATO gives Greece security from potential Turkish aggression. By the same token, I will argue that had Cyprus been part of NATO it would have a better fate. So, the argument that Armenia should not be part of NATO because of Turkey is not a valid argument. There are other arguments however some of which are valid and others are not.

    • {The multilateral policy appears to have failed not because it is inherently wrong but because it was not played well. It has to be combined with economic diversity. Again, too much economic leverage was given to Russia.}

      Actually, for some time, chiefly during the early and mid-1990s, Oskanian’s complementarity policy—although in and of itself utopian from the outset—was played reasonably well, but only because post-Soviet Russia was not even close to the height of her traditional power. But the policy proved to be inherently wrong because it failed, miserably, to adjust to the changing realities in the region where Russia’s influence drastically grew over time, while the West’s influence never really came into effect. Too much economic leverage was given to Russia for the same reason: because NO OTHER country availed itself Armenia’s complementarity offer.

      On Cyprus. In theory, NATO gives both Greece and Turkey security from potential aggression from either of those two countries. But you stubbornly discount the so-called “race politics” in the case of Cyprus. Knowing full well that the prevailing majority of the island’s population was Greek and that Greece had direct national interests in Cyprus, NATO did, nonetheless, give Turkey the green light for invasion. The only major difference between Cyprus and Artsakh is that Artsakh is an unrecognized state entity. Had it been internationally recognized, but not a NATO member state, there would still be ABSOLUTELY no guarantee that Artsakh wouldn’t suffer the same fate as Cyprus.

      The argument that Armenia should not be part of NATO because of Turkey is a very valid argument. And not only because of Artsakh’s insecurity, but also because of the Hay Daht issue.

11. One thing we should realize is Russia and the West have an unwritten agreement that certain pro-Russian ex-Soviet countries are Russia’s zone of influence and off limits to the West in terms of military alliances. Armenia is part of that zone which unfortunately limits our choices. This could be a temporary agreement or a long lasting one, we don’t know that. But what matters for us is that we will not get security guarantees from the West even if we drop everything and try to do that. So, while one can make an argument that perhaps NATO could be a more reliable partner, I don’t believe NATO will accept Armenia in its fold any time soon.

    The Armenian authorities understand it very well, and Serge Sargsyan came to realize that too. Despite being illegitimate he is not a dummy and he is a pragmatic when it comes to understanding that Russia is not a very reliable ally. In early years of his presidency he tried to maneuver towards the West but that didn’t prove to be successful, largely because of Putin and the unwritten agreement that I mentioned above, and also because Serge Sargsyan has not made Armenia a strong country that carries its own weight and is capable of independent foreign policy.

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12. What’s with this Sassoun?

    Turkey constantly violates Greek air space, Turkey occupies northern half of Cyprus. So what good is Greece’s NATO membership doing for Greeks? Georgia hosted US military bases and was on route to joining NATO. What did the mighty US do when the Bear ransacked Georgia in 2008? Didn’t NATO forces also support Islamic extremist groups in Serbia, Libya and Syria? Where do Armenians learn about politics? CNN? Wall Street Journal?

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    • I am not saying NATO is the right choice for Armenia at this point, and NATO is almost certain not to accept Armenia either… you are bringing the example of Greece, yes, Turkey has issues with Greece, and that’s precisely the reason why Greece should stay in the NATO. BTW, Cyprus is a different country, and had Greece not been foolish enough to try to invade things would have been different now… The point is, if you are the right fit NATO has proven to be a more reliable security construct than alliance with Russia. Armenia should improve it’s ties with NATO and not rule out the possibility of joining it in the future, if and when the right time comes.

    • Wait… But in April 22, 2016 at 12:08am post you wrote: “Armenia should start a search for alternative strategic allies. The candidate for that [is…] NATO”. Now you say: “I’m not saying NATO is the right choice for Armenia at this point, and NATO is almost certain not to accept Armenia either”. I’m confused… In one post you’re suggesting that NATO is a candidate for being Armenia’s strategic ally. In another, you say NATO isn’t the right choice for Armenia and will not accept Armenia as an ally. In which post are you being honest?

      Staggering is also this great foreign policy analysis of yours: “Cyprus is a different country, and had Greece not been foolish enough to try to invade, things would have been different now.” Cyprus is, of course, a “different” (sic) country, but the prevailing majority of the population before Turkish Invasion was Christian Greeks, Armenians, and Maronites (82%) and only 18% Muslim Turks. To say that Cyprus was a “different” country without taking into account that her ethnic composition was overwhelmingly Greek is like to say that Artsakh is different, albeit unrecognized, country without taking into account that her ethnic composition is predominantly Armenian.

      Next foreign policy pearl is this: “Had Greece not been foolish enough to try to invade”. For the fact, Greece did not invade Cyprus. Was she contemplating re-unification with Cyprus based on common Hellenic heritage and nationalist aspirations that were heard both in Greece and Cyprus? Probably yes. But you forget that it wasn’t just Greece’s military junta that advanced the idea of a coup in Cyprus, but the National Guard of Cyprus that actually staged it. That is to say, in their own, native country of Cyprus. Where is Turkey in this equation, may I ask? What did the Republic of Turkey have to do with the domestic affairs of a “different” nation-state? Turkish forces in July 1974 invaded Cyprus and captured 3% of the island. In case you forgot, when a ceasefire was declared and military junta collapsed and was replaced by a democratic government in Cyprus, further Turkish invasion, in August 1974, resulted in the capture of 40% of the island. If Turkey was genuinely concerned about having a democratic government, not a military junta, in her neighboring state, why would the Turks advance further AFTER such government was established?

      As for NATO-Armenia nightmarish dream, you have my response above.

    • [In one post you’re suggesting that NATO is a candidate for being Armenia’s strategic ally. In another, you say NATO isn’t the right choice for Armenia and will not accept Armenia as an ally. In which post are you being honest?]

      I am glad you brought this up, because it highlights the difference in my thinking and yours (as well as other unrelated or unacquainted individuals leading precisely the same line of thinking). As I mentioned, Armenia should lead a demonstrative policy of searching for alternative partners with Iran, China and NATO. Note that NATO is the last one I mentioned, on purpose, as the least likely of all. There should be a considerable degree of ambiguity that will advantage Armenia. Becoming a member of NATO takes years, assuming you have no conflicts with your neighbors, and you need to pass minimum qualifications criteria which Armenia clearly does not. Let alone the unwritten agreement with Russia. That being the case, even if Armenia really wanted and tried hard to join NATO it would take many years for that to happen.
      What I am really proposing, unlike the linear thinking that I have been hearing from you and others on this board, Armenia should move away from having a sole military partner, be it Russia or anyone else. Armenia should have multiple alliances, some full, some partial, whatever the mutually beneficial degree of the said partnerships might be. And to this effect, warming the relationship with NATO, or even bluffing that you are doing that, will play in Armenia’s favor. Russia has clearly used and abused it’s monopoly “alliance” with Armenia. It is time to break away from that humiliating and defeating relationship. Russia may still the strongest ally compared with others, but that will be a more real alliances than what we have today.

      Cyprus – I don’t even want to debate about what and why things happened in Cyprus. Clearly Turks took advantage and played dirty… The main point I was trying to make is that despite being adversaries with Turkey, it is in Greece’s advantage to be a part of NATO rather than being outside of NATO while your adversary is a NATO member.

    • {I am glad you brought this up, because it highlights the difference in my thinking and yours.}

      This is not about the difference in thinking, but about integrity and competence.

      {Note that NATO is the last one I mentioned, on purpose, as the least likely of all.}

      Have you or have you not written the following: “Armenia should demonstrably start a search for alternative strategic allies. The candidates for that are Iran, China and even NATO.” We assume we’re debating here with mature people having no reading comprehension predicament, Sassoun, not kindergarten kids. The sentence above unmistakably implies that, in your view, the candidates for Armenia’s alternative strategic allies are Iran, China and even NATO. Yes, NATO is the last one, but it is certainly not mentioned as “the least likely of all”. Otherwise the sentence would read as follows: “Armenia should demonstrably start a search for alternative strategic allies. The candidates for that are Iran, China and, possibly, NATO”.

      {What I’m really proposing [is that] Armenia should move away from having a sole military partner, be it Russia or anyone else. Armenia should have multiple alliances.}

      And what I’m really reiterating is that Armenia has already attempted to move towards having multiple alliances. In the 1990s-early 2000s, Armenian foreign minister conducted his ill-fated policy of complementarity, an inter-relation of reciprocity, as he thought, whereby one element supplemented the other thus providing equal opportunities for all external powers with divergent interests to engage in Armenia. Again, the conduct of that policy has revealed that no other external power—except Russia—had offered herself as a strategic ally of Armenia, with NATO offering the RoA only the Partnership for Peace level of cooperation. Now, you keep really proposing, and I’ll keep really reiterating… At the end, there is no escaping the fact.

      {The main point I was trying to make [about Cyprus] is that despite being adversaries with Turkey, it is in Greece’s advantage to be a part of NATO rather than being outside of NATO while your adversary is a NATO member.}

      To which I’ll reiterate that being a part of NATO, in which Turkey is also a member-state, has not in any way helped Greece to come to Cyprus’ rescue and shield the sovereign state from illegal Turkish intrusion and occupation. I would strongly argue, in this regard, that Armenia being a member of Russia-led military alliance, while Azerbaijan is not, is to Armenia’s strategic advantage given the content of point (c) in my post above re: major factors that shape foreign policy of a nation-state.

    • {We assume we’re debating here with mature people …..}

      That was your and my first mistake.

    • [This is not about the difference in thinking, but about integrity and competence.]

      No, this is about comprehension. And you shouldn’t dare to question my integrity! You have a linear, black and white thinking which doesn’t work in international politics or in any politics for that matter.

      As for competence, are you claiming that I am not competent and you are? It may be your personal belief but I beg to disagree here. I can at least claim to be familiar with the subject matter, maybe I learned a thing or two when I earned a Master’s degree political science and international relations. I can also quote PhD’s in political science who hold similar views. Let me ask you, what qualifications do you have to claim to be more competent?

    • {You shouldn’t dare to question my integrity!}

      I only asked a question: “In which post are you being honest?” In the one, where you suggested that even NATO was a candidate for being Armenia’s strategic ally or in another, where you said NATO wasn’t the right choice for Armenia and would not accept Armenia as an ally? Does this look like I was “questioning” your integrity?

      {You have a linear, black and white thinking which doesn’t work in international politics or in any politics for that matter.}

      No. I’d describe myself as one having a traditionalist Realpolitik thinking. You should know Realpolitik from your years studying for the weird degree “Master’s in political science and international relations”. May I refresh your memory? A system of politics based on practical, realistic ideas rather than beliefs, doctrines, or morals.

      I’d be curious to know as to what college or university offered you Master’s degree in “political science and international relations”? International relations is widely known as being a sub-discipline that together with other sub-disciplines constitute the field of political science. I’d like to learn what educational institution offers a graduate degree both in the major field and in one of its sub-disciplines as one degree?

      Thank you.

    • [This is not about the difference in thinking, but about integrity and competence.]

      How am I supposed to interpret this statement other than questioning my integrity and competence?

      I am believer of realpolitik too. As to what school gave me my degree – it’s a little personal, and considering I don’t know you other than “john” on the internet I don’t think I want to share personal information. On the other hand, if you share your real name and identity I have no problem telling the name of the school.

    • [weird degree]

      I just noticed the word “weird”… it’s a really pathetic attempt to try to win an argument. What is your non-weird degree and who are you really to question my degree?

    • Sassoun, how well are you versed in the English language? I’m asking this because I don’t know you personally and also because I have hard time understanding how a phrase “This is not about the difference in thinking, but about integrity and competence” could remotely suggest that I was questioning your integrity. The difference in thinking referred to both of us, as did integrity and competence. I think you’re making a tragedy out of nothing. Same with the funny Master’s degree in “political science and international relations”. What does my identity have to do with you telling us what institution of higher learning could possibly offer such a degree that combines both the major field (political science) and one of its sub-fields (international relations). If you consider sharing such information “little personal”, do please present us with ANY school in the U.S. which offers such a degree. Fair deal? Thank you.

    • Didn’t I explain why your degree looked weird? I believe I did. Besides, what does a graduate degree have to do with “trying to win an argument” in a discussion pertinent to whether or not Russia is Armenia’s ally? Who am I to question your degree? I’m your fellow debater in an intellectual forum who asked–not questioned–where you got your degree, because it looked weird that a major discipline (political science) and one of its sub-disciplines (international relations) could be offered by an institution of higher learning as one degree. I thought I’ve made myself perfectly understood. No?

    • [Sassoun, how well are you versed in the English language?]

      Once again, why do you and others keep misspelling my name?

      Someone else was questioning my knowledge of Armenian. Believe me, these kind of diversions are not interesting… and no, thank you, the institution that gave my degree has nothing to do with the subject matter.

      This discussion is getting boring and fruitless, on top of that you have to wait for days for your posts to be moderated. I have made my views clear enough. How well they are understood is not under my control, nor do I really care if anonymous internet individuals agree with me or not.

      I am on Facebook if you want to discuss anything find me and send a friend request preferably with your real identity, and I am happy to continue discussion. It will be a lot faster too without delayed moderation.

13. Sassoun,

    Whether you know it or not you suffer from Russophobia, although yours is a milder version of the strain that commonly afflicts Westernized Armenians. It’s not your fault, you have been conditioned by many decades of Western pys-ops targeting Russia. The reality is that Western powers have supported Turks and Muslims (as well as fascists and Nazis) against Orthodox peoples like Russians, Greeks, Serbians and Armenians for centuries. If you don’t believe me, look up the political causes that led to the Crimean War of 1853 and why Western powers were appeasing Hitler in the early years of Nazism. It’s no different today. Western powers (which includes Israel) support Turks and Islamists (Wahhabi/Salafists to be exact) because they are a hedge against Russia, Iran and pan-Arabic nationalism. Moreover, if Armenia disappeared, Russia would be the only nation on earth to suffer a serious setback. If Armenia disappeared, the West wouldn’t even notice it. Armenia only fits into Russia’s geostrategic calculus, and to a lesser extent Iran’s. Anyway, Armenia is part of Russia’s orbit and it will remain so for well into the foreseeable future. So let’s please stop the illusions: Armenia has no options in the matter. For Armenia there is no alternative to Russia. Armenia’s independence from Russia will only mean Armenia’s dependence on Turkey. That is why getting Russians to leave Armenia is an age long Turcko-Western agenda. So, instead of promoting a Turco-Western agenda inside Armenian society, try to be a bit more responsible and accept our nation’s geostrategic reality and try to make the most of it (i.e. embrace Russia to exploit its potential for Armenia).

    PS: Try to get your news from sources other than Western mainstream news organization like CNN, BBC, NYT, WSJ. All mainstream news is sponsored by Western intel and its meant to brainwash you.

    Reply

    • [ Armenia is part of Russia’s orbit and it will remain so for well into the foreseeable future. So let’s please stop the illusions: Armenia has no options in the matter. For Armenia there is no alternative to Russia. Armenia’s independence from Russia will only mean Armenia’s dependence on Turkey. That is why getting Russians to leave Armenia is an age long Turcko-Western agenda. So, instead of promoting a Turco-Western agenda inside Armenian society, try to be a bit more responsible and accept our nation’s geostrategic reality and try to make the most of it (i.e. embrace Russia to exploit its potential for Armenia)]

      Concerned Armenian, if we are going to diagnose each other, let me go ahead and diagnose you with a slavishness. You are directly promoting that Armenia shouldn’t even try to be independent??? There is nothing more dangerous for the statehood of Armenia than what you are saying, and I cannot find any words for it. I am absolute against any notion that Armenia should not try to be as independent as possible from Russia or from any other country/empire… you are also making some unwarranted assumptions. All countries have their respective lines of propaganda, and I know very well Western and Russian propaganda, and I know that Russian is much farther from truth, i.e. continuing the worst traditions of USSR practices they not only hide/bend the truth but freely fabricate their own “truth”.

    • Sassoun, never mind what I said earlier, do you suffer from a severe case of Russophobia LOL

      I’d rather Armenia become part of the Russian Federation before I risk its destruction outside of the Russian orbit. You can play your “independence” in your little fantasy world all you want, it wont change the fact that Armenia cannot survive outside the Russian orbit. Anyway, I cant take anyone that thinks Western news organizations are “closer to the truth” seriously. The Western news press would put to share the Nazis. You prove that the West’s greatest power is its ability to brainwash people.

    • [I’d rather Armenia become part of the Russian Federation before I risk its destruction outside of the Russian orbit. ]

      This says it all. How about Armenia can survive on it’s own as it did in 1918? I know this is a foreign concept to you. You are a Russian fifth column. I have no respect for your position and the values you hold. Fortunately, we have a young generation of people who would rather die than be somebody’s slave.

    • Sassoun,

      Do you know anything about our history or politics in general? The “first republic” was doomed to an early death as soon as it was reluctantly born. In merely two years, the ARF had to abandon Armenia to the Bolsheviks in order to stop it from being erased from the map by Turks – and your wonderful western powers were no where in sight. One historic blunder is one too many especially for a small vulnerable nation like us. At the end of the day: No Russia in Armenia = no Armenia in the south Caucasus. This is a fact, and this has been a fact for two hundred years. Ultimately: I rather see Armenia enter the Russian Federation than see it get laid waste by Turks and Islamists as an “independent” nation. But the current setup, where Armenia is fully in the Russian orbit, is ideal. Thank God for Mother Russia.

    • [Ultimately: I rather see Armenia enter the Russian Federation than see it get laid waste by Turks and Islamists as an “independent” nation. But the current setup, where Armenia is fully in the Russian orbit, is ideal. Thank God for Mother Russia.]

      You are also Russian fifth column. Unfortunately, there are among Armenians and even in the Armenian elite. Do you realize how humiliating it is for someone who is not Russian (I presume from your name) to say “Mother Russia”. Why not Mother Armenia? What is wrong with you people?

      There are other alternatives really. You claim to know history and geopolitics but you don’t know anything about how international politics works. Armenia today is not the Armenia of 1920-21 when we were so fragile due to objective reasons as well as the Bolshevik fifth column, that Armenia had to succumb choosing the lesser evil between the genocidal Turkey and Bolshevik Russia. Today we are a winning nation, and it does not befit us to assume a humiliating position, including vis a vis Russia. I am really ashamed that Armenians publicly pledge allegiance to a foreign country and wish to be part of it rather than boosting our independence. Yes, Russian alliance is vital for Armenia’s security at this point in time, and so is Armenia’s alliance vital for Russia’s interests. It takes legitimate and capable leadership to realize it and make this partnership to work for us too. That also means we have to exert pressure and demand our share of the partnership if circumstances dictate that, as is the case today. We don’t want our partner to sell heavy weaponry to our enemy. This demand has to be made over and over. You cannot be spineless and expect kind treatment, even from your partner.

      Some of you on this board seem to be incapable of distinguishing between “pressuring and making rightful demands from Russia” and “asking Russian troops to leave Armenia, and wanting to join NATO”. This really speaks that you really have no understanding of international politics. Russia is not a friend, it has been an ally with various degrees of benefit to us – sometimes good as has been the case since 1993 until a few years ago, sometimes not so good (as it is right now). And sometimes Russia has acted more like a foe (e.g. 1920 or 21, butchering war heroes from Sardarapat with the hands of Armenian Bolsheviks, operation “Koltso”, the period under an Armenophob governor Golitsin in early 1900’s where the Russian empire closed all Armenian churches and schools and waged repressions against Armenains, and we only got rid of him after he got wounded and was relieved of his duties after multiple attempts of assassination (read a kind of pressure on Russian empire!), the Kars retreat that resulted in a disaster for Armenians, etc.). If we non-emotionally and objectively analyse the history, for every good thing that Russia has done for Armenia we can find at least one bad thing.

      What does that mean for us today? There are some delayed but positive signs that the RA leadership is abandoning their spineless policies and starting to act more adequately and assertively. The latest move to put forward three preconditions to negotiations are clearly a positive step. That is not only toughening of Armenia’s position to Azerbaijan (who according to recent reports lost more than 800 troops in the four day war) but also a measured affront to the negotiating states, including Russia. The consideration by the National Assembly and endorsement by the RA government of the draft legislation to recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh Republic is also a step in the right direction albeit very much delayed. We should see positive results.

      The dystopian belief that we only have two choices – either be wiped out by the Turks or be a Russian province or client state is not only unreal but also unhealthy and harmful to Armenia’s statehood. There are other alternatives.

    • {The dystopian belief that we only have two choices – either be wiped out by the Turks or be a Russian province or client state is not only unreal but also unhealthy and harmful to Armenia’s statehood. There are other alternatives.}

      You keep failing to lay them out. All we’ve seen was a nudis verbis wish that Armenia start a search for alternative strategic allies and that, in your subjective judgment, the candidates for that were Iran, China and even NATO. I replied that Armenia has already done such a search, and that it had produced no one, except Russia, as a strategic ally. As an expert in international politics with a degree in political science and international relations, you should realize that in order to make a statement to the effect that Iran, China and even NATO are candidates to become Armenia’s alternative strategic allies, you must have compelling grounds and evidence to support such statement.

      As you may know, in international relations a strategic alliance is a formal agreement between two (or more) states for mutual support in case of war or military invasion. Even if we hypothetically admit that either Iran or China or even NATO will sign such an agreement with Armenia—which, to me, is something from a fantasy world—a searched-and-found alternative ally would need to go beyond military support in case of war. Given Armenia’s geographical and geopolitical situation, an alternative ally would also need to:
      a. establish a military base on Armenia’s soil,
      b. offer full membership to a military alliance,
      c. sell Armenia arms and armaments at below market prices or often give for free,
      d. supply Armenia and NK with oil and oil products, natural gas, and nuclear fuel, and
      e. open vast markets for Armenian products in a regional economic union.

      With these realities in mind, please compose a list of countries/military alliances that are readily willing to become Armenia’s strategic allies and also fulfill the above-mentioned requirements:

      1. …
      2. …
      3. …
      4. …
      5. …

    • [You keep failing to lay them out…]

      I have already laid out multiple times, I thought I was very clear, perhaps not. I will try one more time and try to break it out as much as possible, at the risk of being not understood and wasting time one more time.

      1. Why Armenia’s complementary policy came to an end. First of all, what was that about? In a nutshell, it meant military partnership with Russia, and economic partnership with the West as well as Armenia’s neighbors and all other countries. The reason it failed is because contrary to it’s stated purpose Armenia, under pressure from Russia broke the balance and continually handed over very important strategic assets to Russia, and gave the monopoly of energy to Russia. To top it all, Armenia joined the Eurasian Economic Union, again under pressure from Russia, which is actually hurting the Armenian economy because the Russian ruble is so much devalued that we can’t export almost anything to Russia. As a result of grave mistakes by successive RA illegitimate governments, what we have got now is a heavy dependence on Russia economically, and exclusive dependence on Russia militarily. And Russia abuses it, as any country would if it was given the same leverage.

      I don’t consider myself an expert, but I consider myself knowledgeable enough to tell that most ideas shared here (often very arrogantly) are pure BS. They are emotional and personal/biased thoughts and beliefs, they defy basic principles of political science and often times defy observed facts, historical lessons and plain logic. What is unsettling is that the authors don’t have basic humility (or maybe even basic intellect) to learn.

      Here is what I suggest, and what experts in international relations will largely agree.

      1. Armenia must shake itself off of what I call the spineless policy and subservience to Russia and even Western powers. Armenia should demand from Russia to be a true partner and stop selling heavy weapons to Azerbaijan (and preferably all weapons).

      2. Such demands should be accompanied by a demonstrative search for alternative partners such as Iran, China and even NATO to create pressure on Russia. I strongly believe that after this Russia will get it’s act together at least to some extent if not fully. Nevertheless, Armenia should not have Russia as the only military ally. Russia can and should, for the time being, be the MAIN partner but never have the monopoly of the ONLY partner.

      What we should expect from other potential partners is not hosting military bases and replace or coexist with the Russian bases (the latter is virtually impossible). Instead, Armenia should explore the possibility of the following:

      With Iran – Weapons delivery (any kind that’s mutually agreeable), agreement that assures fuel and other vital products delivery for the Armenian army in case of total war, political backing and a role as a mediator should Armenia return to negotiations after more military victories.

      With China – weapons purchases/gifts, international cooperation at the UN, etc.

      With NATO and/or individual NATO member countries such as the US, France, Germany – warming up the relations with NATO a notch up, purchase of defense systems such as communication equipment, vital modern medical equipment for the army, and last but not least weapons purchases. (e.g. a few years ago news surfaced that Germany had sold anti-tank weapons to Armenia. We also purchased Russian made military planes from Slovakia at knockout prices. So who said NATO (members) are not helping Armenia?)

      There could be many more ways to establish mutually beneficial military cooperation with all of the above ALONG WITH Russia. Whoever says it’s not possible lacks understanding of international relations.

      The most important thing that’s at the bases of all of the above is that Armenia has a lot of value for Russia as well as many actors in the international area. Armenia should get maximum benefits due to its value. The foolish foreign policy conducted by the RA government has always been criticized by experts of international relations and now it has proven by the fact of the April war to be very wrong. Three main reasons of these failures – a. corrupt and oligarchic economy which has weakened Armenia greatly, b. lack of legitimacy which creates dependency on foreign powers, and c. lack of good understanding of foreign relations.

      Now, as I already mentioned, recently Armenia took some encouraging steps by imposing preconditions to negotiations, and threatening with recognition of NKR. These are steps in the right direction, but there is much more to be done.

      Armenia should:

      1. Cancel the Gas deal with Russia, and start purchasing cheaper gas from Iran (see my other post on Iran’s offer in Dec 2013)
      2. Aggressively work with Iran to make sure Iranian gas is exported to Europe and Ukraine through Armenia as the exclusive transit country
      3. Get out of the Eurasian Economic Union and work with bilateral treaties with Russia and other post-soviet countries.
      4. Recognize the NKR very quickly, hold a referendum in NKR and unify it with the RA once and for all
      5. Recapture the lost territories in the April war and capture some new territories (we can easily do, all military experts say the same thing – our army is just waiting for a command to do that)

      Let me state again – I don’t consider myself an expert in international relations, but here are two experts, both PhDs from top schools, and my views coincide at least 80-90% with both of them. I encourage everyone to listen to these experts and LEARN.

      Arthur Khachikian holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from Stanford University. His dissertation and research focused on great power politics and intervention in the international system as well as international history.
      Here is his appeal to the Armenian societies in Armenia and diaspora
      http://hetq.am/eng/news/67695/will-armenia-awaken.html

      Hayk Martirosyan, PhD in Political Science from Sorbonne University. He has given a dozen interviews in the last month proposing radical changes in policy, as well as military priorities. Here is one recent interview, there are a lot more posted on his facebook page. One of his proposals is that Armenia should be on the offensive and not in defense.

      http://newsline.am/am/news/view/32792.html

      And finally, here is a military expert and Artsakh war hero, general Vitaly Balasanyan who urges that Armenia should attack, and how Russia is stalling us from advancing.

      http://armtimes.com/hy/read/85338

14. (john // April 27, 2016 at 1:38 pm //)

    {Wait… But in April 22, 2016 at 12:08am post you wrote: “Armenia should start a search for alternative strategic allies. The candidate for that [is…] NATO”. Now you say: “I’m not saying NATO is the right choice for Armenia at this point, and NATO is almost certain not to accept Armenia either”. I’m confused…}

    Not fair John: you are again presenting facts to debunk nonsense.
    And you should be confused: there is the real, actual Universe, that those on our side of the isle inhabit. And then there is the other make-believe Universe. I call it BarevaVerse, in honor of the BarevaLoser, who, completely divorced from reality, actually believes he is the Real President of RoA.
    Naturally, BarevaCadres are also convinced of the same.

    btw: as you know from past experience, when our side drives them into a logical dead end with irrefutable fact, in frustration, they invariably resort to insults and name-calling.
    It never fails.

    Reply

    • [btw: as you know from past experience, when our side drives them into a logical dead end with irrefutable fact, in frustration, they invariably resort to insults and name-calling.
      It never fails.]

      You have been labeling people all along. Barevaloser, barevacadre??? I guess you were losing and in frustration all along.
      Soros this and soros that? These are your “facts”… your ridiculous petty arguments are nothing else than propaganda.

    • “..when our side drives them into a logical dead end …”

      Note to John: so after all, you are a “side”, and I was not wrong addressing the three of you, unrelated and unacquainted individuals as a group.

    • “Our side” is the side that thinks rationally and bases its analysis on reality and real world facts. The “other side” believes in a make-believe world that does not exist.

      And you did not {“…addressing the three of you, unrelated and unacquainted individuals as a group.”}: you called us a, quote, “bunch”. A “bunch” is very different than “group”. A “bunch” generally refers to inanimate objects: a derogatory reference, as use by you. A “group” generally refers to people.

      (john // April 27, 2016 at 4:26 pm //)
      {I think calling a group of—unrelated and unacquainted—people “bunch” is an insult, and not pointing out your position on an issue.}

      BarevaLoser: is the real, actual, factual loser of RoA Presidential race in 2013 Raffi Hovanissian. Since Mr. Hovanissian’s campaign motto was “Barev”, the name I coined is accurate.

      BarevaCadres:

      ca·dre
      ˈkadrē,ˈkädrē,ˈkadˌrā,ˈkädˌrā/
      noun: a member of an activist group.

      You are a cyber-activist on behalf of the BarevaLoser, and you believe the BarevaLoser is the “real” President of RoA: again, the word I coined is an accurate description.

    • {Note to John: so after all, you are a “side”, and I was not wrong addressing the three of you, unrelated and unacquainted individuals as a group.}

      Note to Sassoon Kosian: If by “side” a group of like-minded people is meant, then, it may be said we’re a “side” in this particular discussion topic. Still, this doesn’t make us related and acquainted with each other. But you, on the other hand, are again having a problem with integrity. You didn’t address the three of us as “group”. You addressed us as “bunch”. Remember?

    • [BarevaLoser: is the real, actual, factual loser of RoA Presidential race in 2013 Raffi Hovanissian. Since Mr. Hovanissian’s campaign motto was “Barev”, the name I coined is accurate.

      BarevaCadres:

      ca·dre
      ˈkadrē,ˈkädrē,ˈkadˌrā,ˈkädˌrā/
      noun: a member of an activist group.

      You are a cyber-activist on behalf of the BarevaLoser, and you believe the BarevaLoser is the “real” President of RoA: again, the word I coined is an accurate description.]

      These are derogatory comments that I have been hearing from you from day one. Not for you but for someone who is capable of understanding statistical analysis I have provided analysis based on official election results which is irrefutable proof that had there not been ballot staffing, Raffi Hovhannisyan would have either won by a narrow margin or there would have been repeat elections. So trumpeting the crook Sergik Sargsyan as a hero and a legitimate president and similar bravado you may feel good but it’s an insult to the Armenia people whose right to elect their leader have been violated by successive corrupt Armenian leaders.

    • [You are a cyber-activist on behalf of the BarevaLoser…]

      Oh really??? And what would you bet if I prove that I don’t do anything on behalf of Raffi Hovhannisyan?

15. Let me bring an example of how far the RA authorities dependence and slavishness to Russia has gotten us to. In 2014, there was a military sports competition with tanks where the Armenian team won the 2nd place. The award was modern a Russian T90 tank which was supposed to be provided by the Russian Ministry of Defense. But what happened, our allies didn’t give us the tank which we won and we fully deserved to have it. Armenian authorities were so stupidly slavish that they didn’t even dare to make inquiries why the promised tank was not given to us. That thank costs a few million dollars, and in the grand scheme of things one tank more or less does not make a difference for Russia. Yet they wouldn’t give us the damn tank. Until very recently, Armenian independent TV station GALA TV started making inquiries about the tank. Two weeks later the tank was in Armenia. All it took was to ask about it.

    This shows the sad state of affairs with our alliance with Russia and the stupidity of RA leadership who do not even dare to ask for things that rightfully belong to us. Now, why should we be surprised that we are being bombed by Russian weaponry?

    Reply

    • {Let me bring an example of how far the RA authorities dependence and slavishness to Russia has gotten us to}

      Please, pretty please, give us some examples of countries, other than Russia that are willing and able to replace Russia and:
      1.Will prevent invasion by NATO member Turkey by way of stationing troops in RoA and openly threatening Turkey with WW3 if they cross the RoA border.
      2.Will supply RoA and NKR with natural gas at below market prices.
      3.Will supply RoA’s NPP with the nuclear fuel. Note: NPP supplies 40% of RoA electricity needs.
      4.Will supply RoA , and by extension NKR, with heavy weaponry, including long range tactical missiles that can hit Baku, at below market rates, and oftentimes free of charge.

      There are several other requirements that the potential replacement of Russia must meet, but let’s see how you do with the above list.

    • [Please, pretty please, give us some examples of countries, other than Russia that are willing and able to replace Russia and:
      1.Will prevent invasion by NATO member Turkey by way of stationing troops in RoA and openly threatening Turkey with WW3 if they cross the RoA border.
      2.Will supply RoA and NKR with natural gas at below market prices.
      3.Will supply RoA’s NPP with the nuclear fuel. Note: NPP supplies 40% of RoA electricity needs.
      4.Will supply RoA , and by extension NKR, with heavy weaponry, including long range tactical missiles that can hit Baku, at below market rates, and oftentimes free of charge.

      There are several other requirements that the potential replacement of Russia must meet, but let’s see how you do with the above list.]

      I am getting tired of repeating myself. At no point I advocated to replace Russia… I have said “alternatives”, “more than one partner”, “measured pressure on Russia”, “ambiguity”, “bluffing”, etc… as always, your arguments are DISHONEST in which you ignore what I said previously and you attribute things I haven’t said or imply positions I have not maintained.

16. Some examples of slavemaster Uncle Sam showing who is Boss to a few “independent” slaves:

    1.US forces “independent” Franca to cancel the sale of 2 Mistral ships worth $1.3 billion, costing hundreds of French jobs, and ending any possibility of future weapons sales to Russia by France.

    2.US Master forces EU slaves into highly unpopular sanctions against Russia. No skin off Uncle Sam’s back. Meanwhile Europeans are going to lose €100 Billion as a result of the sanctions* (Newsweek 6/19/15).
    {Europe stands to lose a total of €100bn from its economy due to the trade sanctions it has placed on Russia, putting around two million jobs across members states at risk according to an independent Austrian study published by German daily newspaper Die Welt today.}
    {Germany would be one of the biggest losers in terms of jobs, as reduced trade with Russia could put 465,000 German jobs in jeopardy, while Poland would be second, with 335,000 jobs at risk. Italy is the third with 215,000 and though Spain and France are also in the top five, relative to their size their projected losses of 160,000 and 145,000 respectively are considerably lower. WIFO estimate that the UK could lose around 110,000 jobs.}

    3.EU Master forces its new slave Bulgaria** to close its only NPP, which supplied 25% of its electricity. (NY Time,s December 15, 2006)
    {Kozloduy, a clunky-looking showcase of Soviet know-how, has aroused strong feelings in Bulgaria since the first reactors began operations in 1974, during the Brezhnev era. Many Bulgarians are proud of their only nuclear power plant, which produces about a quarter of their electricity and which they consider a sign of technological advancement and national independence — even though the plant remains 100 percent dependent on Russia for fuel. Over the years, the plant has been the site of protests both against nuclear power and for national sovereignty.}
    {Now, two weeks before the country is set to join the European Union on Jan. 1, two Soviet-era VVER 440 reactors at Kozloduy are scheduled to be disconnected from the power grid before midnight Dec. 31 because they are considered not upgradable to European safety standards.}

    4.Masters US and EU force new EU slave Bulgaria not to participate in the Russian South Stream gas pipeline, costing Bulgaria around $500 million @ year in transit fee income.

    There many, many more examples as those above.
    But the point has been made.

    _______
    * http://europe.newsweek.com/russian-sanctions-could-cost-europe-100-billion-328999

    ** http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/15/business/worldbusiness/15iht-wbnuke.3911877.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

    Reply

17. Sassoun, in your desperation you are reach to the bottom of the barrel. Instead of harping on bureaucratic/logistical problems that exists in Armenia and Russia, just realize that in the big picture the only reason why your tiny, poor, remote, landlocked and blockaded homeland has survived the south Caucasus for the past 25 years with neighbors like Turks and Azeris is Russia’s military and economic support.

    With wars raging in Ukraine and Syria, the single T-90 tank was at the bottom of Moscow’s priority list. I don’t even think the Armenian side care much for it either because it would only be symbolic. Armenia currently does not have plans to purchase any number of T-90s.

    When it comes to weaponry, Armenia has more than enough Russian made weapons systems to protect itself from Azerbaijan. What Armenia actually needs is electronic countermeasures to disrupt or bring down Azerbaijan’s Israeli made drones, and it will be getting that capability very soon.

    Reply

    • I agree 100% with Concerned Armenian. This nonsense about “lack’ of weapons, “1980s” weapons, “undelivered” weapons, etc., is disinformation put out by our Western financed agents throughout Armenian society and regurgitated by our naive sheeple. Sadly, these days we have an army of Western financed agents in Armenian society and a surplus of naive sheeple.

      Warning: If the wish of our Western agents and their braindead followers becomes reality (i.e. if Armenia is wrestled away from Russia’s orbit) Armenia will disappear from the map once again. When Russians are out of Armenia and Turks and/or Islamists eventually mass troops on Armenia’s western border – I guarantee you – that all of those in Armenia who are currently demanding that Russian troops leave Armenia will be the first ones to flee the country. And our Russophobes in the Diaspora will simply go back to doing what they do best, which is crying at the feet of their wonderful Western leaders for help.

      Thank God Russia is not going anywhere. Even if it has to spill Armenian blood, thank God Russia is not going anywhere.

      Just two more points: With Russia blocking Turks on the west, Armenia/Artsakh can easily defeat Azerbaijan’s military with the arsenal it currently has. Thanks to Russia, Armenia does not have any lack of weapons systems to defend itself from Azerbaijan. Moreover, I suggest you people wake up and realize that weapons systems made in the 1980s make up the majority of the arsenal found the American and Russian militaries. When modernized and well maintained, weapons systems such as armored vehicles and aircraft are just as effective as modern ones.

      The public’s utter ignorance about these kinds of matters are being manipulated by Western smut-peddlers and then regurgitated by our sheeple. If Armenians fall for these Western tricks again, Armenia will be devastated once again.

    • [I agree 100% with Concerned Armenian. This nonsense about “lack’ of weapons, “1980s” weapons, “undelivered” weapons, etc., is disinformation put out by our Western financed agents throughout Armenian society and regurgitated by our naive sheeple. ]

      Are you kidding me? What kind of nonsense is that? Do you bother to read/listen/watch the news before you make your “authoritative” viewpoints? These statements were made by RA authorities, Sergik Sargsyan said in Germany that we were fighting with 80’s weapons, and similarly RA authorities have stated that the $200 M weapons have not been delivered. The RA prime minister urged the Russian authorities to accelerate the delivery of these weapons.

    • Sassoun, I see you have a problem with reading comprehension. Let me try again: A vast majority of weapons systems found in the US and Russian military arsenals are from 1980s. Let me repeat: Most of the weapons found in the armed forces of Russia and the US are from the 1980s. Do you now understand? Also, Armenia has more than enough military capability (thanks to Russia) to stop any kind of Azeri aggression. DO you now understand? Every time President Sargsyan complains about Russia he is in essence pandering to Western powers for on reason or another. Had it not been for Russia during the past 25 years Armenia would not survive. Sargsyan know this well, but he thinks he is playing politics.

    • [Sassoun, I see you have a problem with reading comprehension.]

      Oh no, I understood you very clearly. You explained undelivered weapons and 1980’s weapons statements with a ridiculous conspiracy theory. These are exactly the words you used.

      [This nonsense about “lack’ of weapons, “1980s” weapons, “undelivered” weapons, etc., is disinformation put out by our Western financed agents throughout Armenian society and regurgitated by our naive sheeple. ]

      And BTW, lack of weapons, or rather Azeries having a lot more weapons than us is a well known fact, confirmed by Armenian authorities too, nothing to do with your much feared Soros.

18. Speaking of Russian cheap gas: Iran has offered Armenia even cheaper gas on multiple occasions. Armenia has not taken the offer under Russian pressure. Wouldn’t it be nice to have Iranian cheaper gas while at the same time Russian and other alternative military partnerships? Wouldn’t it be even nicer to have Iranian gas transit through Armenia and sit back and collect fees for a change as opposed to rely an foreign credit for crucial military purchases? Guess who opposed the transit plans – our big old friend Russia.

    It is not such a fantastic dream folks. It is quite normal practice around the world to negotiate and pursue your national interests. You can save your doom and gloom personal nightmares to your private orbits and stop projecting your subservient mindsets with childish swagger. Giving any nation, be it Russia or anyone else, a monopoly in energy and military security is the worst policy one can ever lead. There alternatives for those who are willing and able to create ones. All we need is a legitimate and capable government to make deals that actually benefit Armenia’s INDEPENDENT statehood and its people. We deserve better than this.

    Reply

19. Sassoun, you are sounding more-and-more like Armenia’s Georgie Soros funded political opposition. What you are saying is essentially a lie put our by our Western funded smut peddlers. If you have concrete information about Iranians offering Armenia cheaper energy please provide us a link.

    Reply

    • I don’t subscribe to your ridiculous worldview that someone who is not worshiping Russia has to be funded by Soros… As for Iran’s offer for cheaper gas, again you should read/watch/listen to the news before you make your extremely authoritative comments about geopolitics especially when you are lecturing others. Do your homework yourself, I have better things to do…

    • Sassoun, when people get caught telling lies, they get angry. Stop being so angry. You made a claim. I called you out. If you want to be taken seriously? Provide evidence to back up things you say. To date, Russia is the ONLY country on earth that has offered Armenia cheep energy. Russia is also the ONLY nation on earth that gives Armenia cheep (often free) weapons systems. Finally, The freak show called “Founding Parliament” is a Soros funded operation. Please don’t tell me you don’t know that.

    • [Sassoun, when people get caught telling lies, they get angry. Stop being so angry. You made a claim. I called you out. If you want to be taken seriously? Provide evidence to back up things you say. To date, Russia is the ONLY country on earth that has offered Armenia cheep energy. Russia is also the ONLY nation on earth that gives Armenia cheep (often free) weapons systems. Finally, The freak show called “Founding Parliament” is a Soros funded operation. Please don’t tell me you don’t know that.]

      Listen, dear self-proclaimed expert of all. You don’t know what you are talking about, and are very confused by multiple conspiracy theories. Your claims are simply ridiculous. Last year the Iranian ambassador to Armenia made multiple statements about Iran willing to provide cheaper gas to Armenia. And this was not the first time. Again, READ THE NEWS and don’t make ridiculous statements. I am not going to do your homework, try Google.

      Founding Parliament has nothing to do with Soros, and in fact they are very distanced from any foreign organization. Do you have any evidence to make such a claim? All you and some others on this board do is label and accuse others. If you want to be taken seriously start producing evidence for your outrageous claims.

      Furthermore, there is nothing more dangerous than calling a foreign country “Mother”. You are a Russian fifth column and a potential traitor, and you are worried about Soros??? You are very confused!

    • Just to preempt any more foolish claims by Harutik and others who are not even properly informed, I spent some time (which I shouldn’t) to dig out from the old news. Actually it’s not last year but December 2013, when the Iranian ambassador made two interviews that embarrassed the Armenian leadership. The essence is that Armenia has not even tried to take up the offer from Iran to negotiate gas prices. The ambassador says that Iran could potentially sell cheaper gas to Armenian than to other countries, for as little as $100 which is way cheaper than Russian gas we receive today and in general in recent years. Quite embarrassing for the Armenian authorities indeed, but of course that has not resulted in resignations or policy changes.

      «Մի բան էլ կա․ գուցե մի երկիր ինչ-որ մի երկրի հազար խորանարդ մետրը վաճառի 400 դոլարով, մեկ այլ երկրի ցանկանա վաճառել 100 դոլարով: Դա կախված է երկու երկրների միջև ձեռք բերված համաձայնությունից»,- շարունակեց Ռաիսին:

      Harutik, next time you “catch me lying” do your homework first. I don’t feel that it’s my job to fill the many gaps in your knowledge.

    • Oh, and here is the link to the interview by the Iranian ambassador Raisi http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/25192067.html

    • Sassoun, I guess you need to learn better Armenian. LOL No where in the interview, which I had read when it first came out, does the Iranian official offer cheaper natural gas to Armenia. That said, this interview was the closest Iranians ever came to even remotely suggesting that they may be interested in Armenia’s energy market. At the end of the day, however, Iran did NOT offer Armenia cheaper rates. At the end of the day, Russia is providing Armenia with one of the lowest gas rates in the world.

    • [Sassoun, I guess you need to learn better Armenian.]

      Yeah, just say anything … I am done with you. I don’t care whatever nonsense you believe.

20. (john // May 5, 2016 at 12:02 pm //)
    { Now, you keep really proposing, and I’ll keep really reiterating… At the end, there is no escaping the fact.}

    (Sassoon Kosian // May 6, 2016 at 1:45 pm //)
    {I am getting tired of repeating myself. At no point I advocated to replace Russia… I have said “alternatives”, “more than one partner”, “measured pressure on Russia”, “ambiguity”, “bluffing”, etc…}

    Poster [John] already addressed your make-believe proposals.
    No need to repeat the debunking of “proposals” that have no basis in reality.

    Reply

21. Something which I’d like to point out to our concerned Russian nationalist guests (who still continue in their desperation to advocate for Armenia to dump its independence inside the toilet, and enslave itself by entering into “Mother Russia’s” Federation), is that as Mr. Boyajian thoroughly explained in his article, “Suppose Armenia, voluntarily or otherwise, left the Russian orbit. Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia would soon be sucked into the NATO alliance. Separating the Muslim north Caucasus from the Russian Federation would become a top NATO priority. NATO would create a Baku-based navy in the gas and oil-rich Caspian Sea. Reaching across the Caspian, NATO would link up with Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. This is pan-Turkism under a NATO fig-leaf. Virtually surrounded by NATO and China, Russia would be ripe for destruction.” Yes, indeed it would be. Therefore, this means that Russia can not afford in any possible way to lose Armenia to NATO. This by itself, gives Armenia a big advantage in dealing with its “ally” (Russia), by threatening that if Russia does not satisfy its reasonable demands, Armenia will dump Russia and hook up with NATO. But yet, throughout this whole entire time, Mr. Sargsyan has never once taken it upon himself to bother Putin about this particular matter. Because, if he had done so, his demands would’ve been fulfilled. In other words, there never would’ve been any sale of Russian military arms to Azerbaijan. The Armenian military would now be fully furnished with the most advanced Russian military equipment, all free of charge. Instead of being neutral in the Artsakh conflict as it’s been this whole time, Russia would recognize the independence of the Artsakh Republic. And furthermore, Putin would tell Hyena Aliyev in a private meeting that if he launches any further attack on Armenia or Artsakh, there will end up being a Russian military attack against Azerbaijan (which would obviously frighten the Azerbaijani president, and deter him from any further terrorist attacks). Yes, that’s right! In exchange for not losing Armenia to NATO, Putin would obviously do all of the above, which would cost him absolutely nothing. However, as you can see, the incompetent Serzh is just not capable of presenting any kind of demands upon Putin. As a result, Russia will continue to disrespect Armenia, humiliate it, and exploit it in every possible way.

    Returning back to the subject of “Mother Russia”, once again, what a horrible excuse for a mother is Russia, by selling four billion dollars worth of heavy military arms to Armenia’s mortal enemy, Azerbaijan, (of which it plans to sell a whole lot more) as well as never once condemning Hyena Aliyev for his brutal campaign of terrorism against Armenia and Artsakh.

    Reply

    • Well said Yerevanian. According to Hayk Martirosyan, Russia’s future is very closely tied with it’s partnership with Armenia. While I am not 100% convinced that Russia may not exist (as we know it) without Armenia, he is the expert, and he could be right. But I agree that Armenia is at least very important to Russia, even if Armenia may not determine Russia’s future. Therefore, Russia will not easily leave Armenia as many dilettantes fear/claim.

      http://newsline.am/am/news/view/32792.html

    • Sassoon Kosian,

      Hayk Martirosyan spoke very well in that interview. Hey, he’s the type of president we need for the Republic of Hayastan. The problem, however, is crafting out a strategy that will succeed in dismantling the perverse regime of that wimpy Serzh (who has absolutely no plans to relinquish his ruling power after his final term), and replacing him with someone as devoted to our Hayrenik as Brother Hayk happens to be.

    • [Hey, he’s the type of president we need for the Republic of Hayastan. ]

      Well, he was offered personally by the Prime Minister of RA “the Mouse” Hovik Abrahamyan the position of Chief Aide. To the disappointment of many including myself he accepted the offer. But we were relieved when he quit after 1-2 months. A bright individual and professional like him simply can’t have anything in common with a corrupt, illegitimate shadowy character like the Mouse and his less than intelligent staff.

22. “Yerevanian”

    The comment Boyajian made actually betrays a lack of understanding. The man means well, but he has very little understanding of Russia, the Caucasus and geopolitics in general.

    Let Boyajian be. I suggest you instead ask yourself: Why isn’t Georgia in NATO? Why isn’t Ukraine in NATO? They both tried, they both got mutilated by Russia in the process. For that matter, why isn’t Azerbaijan is NATO? Could it be that Russia is the region’s main power broker? Could it be that Russia is the region’s main superpower?

    Unlike Ukraine, Georgia and Azerbaijan, Armenia is too small, too impoverished, too landlocked and too surrounded with Turks to survive making enemies with Russia. In my opinion, any attempt by Armenia to join NATO will spell the end of Armenia. If Russians don’t destroy it in order to stop it from falling into enemy hands, “NATO” member Turks certainly will. Thin of it this way: If by some miracle Armenia was to join NATO, at the very least Armenia will lose NKR. At the very least, Armenia will automatically become dependent on Turkey.

    Some people so blindly Russophobic these days that they would rather Armenia be in an alliance with Azerbaijan and Turkey. It’s amazing how simple minded and self-destructive Armenians are when it comes to politics.

    Reply

23. (Sassoon Kosian // May 7, 2016 at 10:34 pm //)
    {Oh really??? And what would you bet if I prove that I don’t do anything on behalf of Raffi Hovhannisyan?}

    Yes, really. See below.

    (Sassoon Kosian // May 7, 2016 at 10:29 pm //)
    {I have provided analysis based on official election results which is irrefutable proof that had there not been ballot staffing, Raffi Hovhannisyan would have either won by a narrow margin or there would have been repeat elections}

    You have provided nothing.
    So-called “analysis” and statistical manipulations by Soros-funded anti-Armenian organizations are as far from being “irrefutable proof” as Armenia is from China.

    And that sentence of yours above is the proof that you are a cyber-activist on behalf of the BarevaLoser of the 2013 RoA Presidential election Raffi Hovanissian.

    Reply

    • You prove once again that you are engaged in dirty propaganda and spewing lies and slandering. I dare you to provide evidence to back up your claims. I also challenge you to reveal your true identity and let’s see who you represent. Until you do that your statements are nothing more than rubbish.

    • {I dare you…}

      I double dare you: so there.

      {You prove once again that you are engaged in dirty propaganda and spewing lies and slandering}

      Wow: that was pretty impressive.
      Do you even know what “slander” means?
      What do you think: is this sentence that you wrote slander ? {“John, Avery and Harutik, you are quite a conservative-reactionary bunch with a linear thinking.}
      How about this one that you wrote: {“You are also Russian fifth column.”} (addressed to poster [Harutik]).
      Does that constitute slander ?
      And……{“ are engaged in dirty propaganda and spewing lies”} (addressed to yours truly)

      Are _you_ engaged in slandering?
      Inquiring minds want to know.

      {I also challenge you to reveal your true identity and let’s see who you represent}

      OK, I accept your challenge and raise you one.
      If you reveal _your_ true identity and who you truly represent, then I solemnly promise to give your challenge due consideration.
      Thank You.
      Avery Putinski.

    • [I double dare you: so there.]

      Wow, what a challenge! In fact, I took your challenge before you made it by always signing by my real full name. I am on social media and searching by my name brings up a lot of information on my identity. I have got nothing to hide. Now, your turn! I think it would be useful for everyone to know who are all the online Russian fifth column in real life, who ironically found no better place to post their ideologies on than an ARF associated website’s forum, openly and cynically advocating Russian colonial rule in Armenia, or even worse, Armenia being joined/annexed/… or whatever sick treasonous dream they have in mind for our SOVEREIGN state of Armenia.

24. Okay, people. Stop the hysteria and stop jumping at people’s faces if they don’t agree with you.

    Russia is our natural, I am emphasize NATURAL ally in the region, that is out of question. Does that mean we should give up on our interests and play russia’s game? hell no. Does that mean we should allow Russia to have total control over Armenia? hell no.

    We should create a situation when Russia will realize that if we go down, they get harmed really bad.

    Like one wise man once said, Russia is both a poison and a drug at the same time for us, depending on the doze and where it is applied. Economically and from humanitarian perspective they have nothing to offer. Militarily they do. So we need to have spheres where we will allow there presence and spheres where we will not.

    We need to develop our country militarily, economically and have as many partners as possible and as few enemies as possible.

    Reply

    • Very reasonable position!

    • No one is suggesting that we should give up on our interests and play Russia’s game. What’s being suggested is that from the perspective of Realpolitik and given Armenia’s geopolitical location, we at this historical juncture should advance our interests in the wake of Russia’s foreign and security policy.

      No one is suggesting that we should allow Russia to have total control over Armenia. But you’re a lag-behinder on this. Many of Armenia’s assets, infrastructures, and enterprises have been transferred to Russia’s hands. When you have a superpower as an ally, partial loss of sovereignty and infrastructures is inevitable. Had America or China been in Russia’s place, I have no doubt, it would have been the same, if not worse.

      {We should create a situation when Russia will realize that if we go down, they get harmed really bad.}

      They do. Otherwise, they wouldn’t maintain a military base in Armenia and include Armenia as a member of a collective security treaty.

      {Economically and from humanitarian perspective they have nothing to offer.}

      What did other superpowers offer Armenia economically and from humanitarian perspective? Almost nothing.

      {We need to […] have as many partners as possible and as few enemies as possible.}

      We’ve tried having as many partners as possible already, people… It didn’t work. Because of a simple physics law: Russia’s gravity force is too great for a landlocked country like Armenia to be able to maneuver freely.

      As for having as few enemies as possible, I’d interested to know how technically it is possible in the case of Armenia, which has four neighboring countries along her borders, two of which grind axes on Armenia, literally, wishing her to disappear from the map.

25. People wiser than us have studied international relations and established a basic truth called realpolitik. Perhaps it’s not so easy to realize when all countries and empires wage their propaganda wars to convince you otherwise. What that means is all actors in the international arena pursue self interests. To further this basic need they form alliances. It says nowhere about friendship, only self interest.

    Claiming that Russia loves Armenia or anything to that effect is simply foolishness and illiteracy of politics.

    I remember a survey I came across that was conducted in Moscow several years ago. Russian people were asked about each of post Soviet countries who they consider friends and who they consider enemies. Ordinary people, unless they know something about political science, easily believe in the illusion of friendships, illusion that is created by the propaganda machines of their respective sovereign countries. So, I was expected that a lot of Russians will state about their love for Armenia. But I was shocked to find out that Armenia lovers were some 12% or so, and there was a single digit percentage of Russians who considered Armenia a foe. Azerbaijan fared slightly worse than us in both questions, and so did Georgia.
    Now, before the April war if you asked Armenians the same question about Russia, I think more than 70% would have called Russia a friend. That number is probably less today. Whatever that number is, it means that our people are really foolish to consider Russia friends while nearly 90% of Russians don’t consider Armenia either friend or a foe. And the only reason we are foolish is because our leadership is foolish that instead of teaching us the healthy truth about Armenia-Russia relations, it has for many years subjected its citizens to a harmful propaganda about a non-existent Russian friendship.

    Anyone familiar with the discipline of international relations will tell you that Russia is neither friend nor foe. An ally, a natural ally, an ally gone wayward? Yes. But friend? Never. No country is a permanent and unreserved friend of any another country. Even countries that speak a similar language. A vibrant example of that is Russia and Ukraine. So can be Turkey and Azerbaijan if circumstances change. So, those who are afraid to acknowledge that Russia is not our friend, and that we really don’t have friends – remember that is the case with any other country in the entire planet. Emotionally admiring a foreign country, let alone going as far as calling it a “Mother” is foolishness and political illiteracy to the extreme. And promoting it on the web is not only irritating but also a disgrace for the Armenian society.

    Reply

    • {People wiser than us have studied international relations}

      People who chose to study international relations don’t necessarily have to be ‘wiser’ than people who chose to study other disciplines.

      {[…] and established a basic truth called Realpolitik}

      Realpolitik is not a ‘basic truth’. Realpolitik is one of the types of politics or diplomacy. And it wasn’t ‘established’, but, rather, studied and coined by Ludwig von Rochau. By the way, von Rochau happened to be a journalist, not an international relations expert.

      {Claiming that Russia loves Armenia or anything to that effect is simply foolishness and illiteracy of politics.}

      I scrolled up and down this thread in an attempt to find any post that claimed that ‘Russia loves Armenia’.

    • [People who chose to study international relations don’t necessarily have to be ‘wiser’ than people who chose to study other disciplines.]

      Is that really what I said???

      [Realpolitik is not a ‘basic truth’. Realpolitik is one of the types of politics or diplomacy. And it wasn’t ‘established’, but, rather, studied and coined by Ludwig von Rochau. By the way, von Rochau happened to be a journalist, not an international relations expert.]

      Again, you are not understanding, or perhaps intentionally misinterpreting what I said. It’s not about who coined the term but how prevalent it is as a school of thought. Realpolitik is not the only school of thought in international relations, however, it is the dominant one because it is based on factual observations with very few exceptions. Most political scientists believe that states act within the logic of realpolitik, at least most of the time.

    • [I scrolled up and down this thread in an attempt to find any post that claimed that ‘Russia loves Armenia’.]

      Try again. Hint: check with those how call Russia “Mother”.

    • Yeap. This is what you said: “People wiser than us have studied international relations and established a basic truth called realpolitik.” From what you’ve said it is implied—and posters with no reading comprehension predicament subsequently understand—that, according to you, people who studied international relations are wiser than us. You also said that those wise men who studied international relations “established a basic truth called realpolitik.” I proved to you that Realpolitik was not a basic truth, but just one of many types of politics or diplomacy, and that it was not “established” per se, but researched and coined by a journalist, i.e. a person sillier than those who have studied international relations.

    • Figurative phrase “Mother Russia” and your accusation that someone here has said that “Russia loves Armenia” are two divergently different things.

26. “Harutik”,

    It’s really amazing how extremely hollow and foolish are Russian nationalists, when it comes to politics. Just take a look at your beloved leader, Putin. After all this time, that silly imbecile still believes that he can pull Azerbaijan into the Russian orbit. He persistently fails to comprehend that Azerbaijan, naturally, is in the orbit of its big brother, Turkey. These two are united together from top to bottom (one nation, two states). The same way that Turkey will never be within the Russian orbit, likewise, its little brother (Azerbaijan) will also never be within the Russian orbit. Does Putin really believe that Azerbaijan could possibly enter into his orbit, which would therefore enable him to have full control of it, like he does with Armenia? Hyena Aliyev would never allow such a thing to take place.

    “Why isn’t Georgia in NATO? Why isn’t Ukraine in NATO? Why isn’t Azerbaijan in NATO?”

    Georgia isn’t in NATO, because NATO hasn’t accepted them yet. Did you actually think that any country can join NATO, whenever it wishes? No, it doesn’t work that way. As for Ukraine, although it’s interested in pursuing NATO membership, it plans to hold a referendum before seeking to join. In terms of Azerbaijan, it may or may not seek to join NATO.

    “Most of the weapons found in the armed forces of Russia and the US are from the 1980’s.”

    And how can that possibly be when the United States spends $596 billion a year on its military, along with Russia who spends $66.4 billion a year on its own military? With each passing year, both countries are spending all that money to create more advanced military weapons.

    “Armenia has more than enough military capability (thanks to Russia) to stop any kind of Azeri aggression.”

    The Armenian military, definitely has the capability to stop any kind of Azeri aggression, not because of its Russian military weapons arsenal, which unlike the Azerbaijani arsenal, largely consists of older, unadvanced military weapons from previous decades, even going as far back as the 1980’s (this is unacceptable; those Armenian soldiers deserve better than that), but because of its superior fighting skills. That’s right! Those Armenian soldiers are the very best at their craft!

    In terms of having an alliance with Azerbaijan and Turkey, that’s exactly what Russia desires for Armenia to do. By doing so, Russia would surely and foolishly believe that such an alliance would therefore bring over those two Turk brothers into the Russian orbit.

    And exactly how am I being Russophobic by speaking about Russia’s wrongful treatment of Armenia? What does one have to do with the other? It’s really amazing how you’ve become so desperate in your denialism of your country’s wrongful treatment of Armenia. Hey, there’s nothing wrong with loving your country as much as you do; however, you should at least have a bit of integrity by being able to recognize the wrongs committed by your country, as opposed to desperately attempting to cover up these wrongs.

    On the subject of Mr. Boyajian, I’d like to take the time now to applaud him on such a well-written piece of literature in regard to Russia.

    Reply

27. (Sassoon Kosian // May 12, 2016 at 6:04 pm //)
    {Actually it’s not last year but December 2013, when the Iranian ambassador made two interviews that embarrassed the Armenian leadership.}

    Iran discussing selling Armenia natural gas at $100 per 1,000 cubic meters is as bogus as the US State Dept mouthpiece’s website name ԱԶԱՏՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ.
    The worldwide UN sanctions on Iran ended only in Jan 2016.
    The interview took place in June 2013.
    Before the sanctions were lifted, Iran was not allowed to sell _any_ hydrocarbons to _any_ country.
    There is no way the Iranian ambassador could know in 2013 when in the future UN sanctions on Iran would be lifted.
    So how was Iran going to sell natural gas to Armenia for $100 per 1,000 cubic meters in 2013?
    Iranian ambassador was blowing smoke.
    And why would Iran sell its gas to Armenia at $100, when it could sell it for $400 elsewhere?
    For what purpose?

    And I am sure the US State Dept anti-Armenian, anti-Russian propaganda outlet azatutyun.am has no ulterior motives in conducting and publishing the bogus interview and Iran’s ambassador is too stupid to know that.

    Iranians/Persians have been around for a long time.
    They play geo-politics better than most.
    They blow smoke when they need to.

    Reply

    • Uninformed, ignorant… Iran has been selling gas to Armenia for many years, in exchange for electricity.

    • [Iran discussing selling Armenia natural gas at $100 per 1,000 cubic meters is as bogus as the US State Dept mouthpiece’s website name ԱԶԱՏՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ.]

      Yeah, really laughable excuse of a propaganda piece devoid of any logic. The US state department is making the Iranian ambassador look better than Russians. Yet again ignorant slander, that interview was reported by other news agencies. Oh wait, of course, the others are paid by Soros.

    • [The interview took place in June 2013.]

      Really? Wow!!! We can conclude that Putinski lives in the evil United States, yet he worships Russia. But he is so ignorant that doesn’t know that 06.12.2013 is December 6, 2013 in pretty much all over the world except the US, not June 12, 2013 which would be the case in the US.

      I know many people like you who living in the US take advantage of the Western rights and liberties yet they badmouth it day and night, and choose to worship a murderous dictator like Putin. To all hypocrites like you I dare to pack and leave for Russia.

    • Sassoun,

      Your rhetoric sounds like that of pre-genocide Ottoman Armenians who were constantly praising Turkish rule only because they happened to live better than their Armenian counterparts in the Anatolian interior. If you think you have “liberties” in the US you are hallucinating. You are hopelessly brainwashed and you have little understanding of the world you live in. Living in the American empire gives intelligent people a better perspective on the world. Americans with healthy minds see the evil of their political system better than anyone else. Americans also know that the American empire is in decline and whatever sociopolitical advances the country had registered in recent decades is gradually eroding away. Also, one does not have to live in Russia to understand geopolitics and come to the recognition that Armenia won’t be able to live in the south Caucasus without an alliance with the Russian Bear.

      We live where we live mostly due to family history and political circumstances (e.g. Western powers destroying different regions of the world where our families once lived). Telling American-Armenians move to Russia just because they support Russian politics is sillier than telling American-Armenians who love Armenia to pack up and move to Armenia.

      PS: When people are caught in lies or when they can’t argue a point intelligently, they get angry. You sound very angry.

28. So, Sassoun, which of your two posts should we take as an expression of your true opinion: the one in which you suggested that even NATO was a candidate for being Armenia’s alternative strategic ally or the one in which you said NATO wasn’t the right choice for Armenia and would not accept Armenia as an ally?

    Let us know if you need more time to answer.

    Reply

    • First of all, john and everyone, quit misspelling my name.

      John, why is it so hard to understand that seeking closer relations with NATO does not necessarily mean joining NATO right away, or at all. Why do I need to explain everything?

    • {Why do I need to explain everything?}

      Because you’re contradicting yourself. To suggest NATO as a candidate for Armenia’s strategic ally and then to backtrack by saying that NATO wasn’t the right choice for Armenia and wouldn’t accept Armenia as an ally are mutually exclusive statements, in case you have hard time understanding your own scribblings. By the way, in none of these two statements there was a phrase “joining NATO right away”. Again, Armenia has already sought closer relations with NATO back in the 1990s and early 2000s. NATO has chosen to accept Armenia only as close as a member in its Partnership for Peace program. What other hidden foreign policy leverage do you think Armenia has to pressure NATO to admit her as a full member–now or in foreseeable future? Do please enlighten us…

29. Well, my optimism regarding Sergik’s coming to his senses by conducting a more assertive foreign policy was premature. In Vienna last Sunday he completely forgot about the three preconditions he put forward very recently. Disappointing!

    For those who can read Russian, here is an analysis of the disgraceful Vienna meeting and generally the recent 4 day war by a Russian political and military expert Grigory Trofimchuk http://kavpolit.com/articles/po_sledam_nedovojny_v_karabahe-25736/. Note his last statement where he asserts that Armenia will seek Western support if Russia fails to provide complete security for both Armenian as well as Armenian controlled territories.

    Reply

    • {Well, my optimism regarding Sergik’s coming to his senses by conducting a more assertive foreign policy was premature.}

      So how many years did you fight during the Karabagh war to give yourself license to call a war veteran and the President of RoA “Sergik”?.

      Disrespect must be SOP for the BarevaCommunity, with their BarevaLeader showing up to meet the President in the official residence in jeans, in his ridiculous turtleneck, and with his even more ridiculous scarf.

      When the leader of the sole Superpower gravely announces various “red lines” e.g. re Syria, then promptly ignores them due to changing circumstances, it’s considered statecraft. But of course the BarevaCadres, sitting safely in their air-conditioned offices in US, will grandly agitate for war. Why not? they are not at the LoC. They have no sons at the LoC.

      btw: any news when your BarevaLeader is headed for the LoC?

30. (Sassoon Kosian // May 15, 2016 at 8:34 pm //)

    {“Uninformed, ignorant… Iran has been selling gas to Armenia for many years, in exchange for electricity.”}

    Well, No: Iran has not been _selling_ gas to Armenia.
    It is called exchange or barter.
    You _sell_ something for a market price and pay with agreed currency.
    Two parties can exchange goods and services between themselves and agree to value the goods and services to whatever they agree to.
    Then there are Market prices: money was invented to facilitate trade in goods and services between parties who do not want to barter. US dollar is currently the reserve currency for most international trade, particularly hydrocarbons.

    From State Dept propaganda mouthpiece you provided:

    {Եվ վերջում մեկ տեղեկություն․ ըստ Հայաստանի Պետեկամուտների կոմիտեի վերջին տվյալների, այս տարվա երրորդ եռամսյակում Հայաստան Իրանից ներմուծված գազը (գազ՝ էլեկտրաէներգիայի դիմաց գործարքի շրջանակում) արժեցել է 181.7 դոլար հազար խորանարդ մետրի դիմաց:}

    So even at favourable barter exchange rate Iranian gas is not priced at $100 per 1000 cubic meters: it is valued at $181.7 per. About the same as Russian gas bought by Armenia for cash. Since Iran needs electricity for its regions close to RoA, the barter rate for its gas is very favourable for RoA.

    So even the link you provided debunks your lies about gas prices.

    Reply

    • {So even at favourable barter exchange rate Iranian gas is not priced at $100 per 1000 cubic meters: it is valued at $181.7 per. About the same as Russian gas bought by Armenia for cash.}

      Actually, Avery, following Medvedev’s visit to Yerevan in April, Armenia will now pay Russia’s Gazprom $150 per 1000 cubic meters, down from $165.

    • Thanks for the updates info John: did know about that.
      Even better.

    • CORRECTION: meant to say did _not_ know about the new price.

31. So, Sassoon, we didn’t hear from you as to what institution of higher learning in the U.S.—any, not the one you graduated from—offers Master’s degree in political science and international relations? Let us know if you need more time… Thank you.

    Reply

32. It is one thing for Armenia to have Russia as an “ally” and to recognize its importance.
    It is another thing entirely when an Armenian becomes slavishly devoted to Russia and will never complain or try to do anything even when Russia spits in Armenia’s face.
    When this happens, Russia learns that it can spit in Armenia’s face more often and with ever greater force.

    Reply

    • “Russia spits in Armenia’s face” only in the eyes of Armenia’s Western agents and their followers. In reality, Armenia exists because of the massive support it has been receiving from Russia. Russia has actually been serving Armenia with white gloves. If Russia spit on Armenia’s face Armenia would disappear.

33. “Well, my optimism regarding Sergik’s coming to his senses by conducting a more assertive foreign policy was premature.”

    Well, in terms of Serzhik conducting a more assertive foreign policy, that is indeed very comical. Throughout this whole entire time, he has never once exhibited the slightest amount of toughness against Aliyev, who eagerly launches terrorist attacks against Armenia and Artsakh whenever he feels like it, without any kind of retaliation being delivered back by Serzh. What a wimp! And, this is one of the reasons why Serzhik’s fellow war veterans from the 1990’s Karabagh War happen to have absolutely no respect for him.

    Furthermore, how can Serzh possibly conduct a more assertive foreign policy by allowing himself to be enslaved to Russia, who humiliates Armenia by selling massive amounts of heavy military arms to Armenia’s mortal enemy (Azerbaijan), with absolutely no complaints being made by Serzh?

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34. It’s what being Armenian is all about, surrounded by enemies and traitors. It’s because we are so different and no other ethno comes near to us. Slavs, turks, persians,.. None of them are related. Tje only relatives are our selves. This diasporian will defend Hayastan till his death.

    Reply