“Zhoghovurd” editorializes on the new dividing lines appearing in the wake of the crisis in Ukraine and implications for Armenia. “After what happened in Crimea the current expectation is of destabilization in eastern Ukraine and in [Moldova’s breakaway region] of Transdniester. And the events that have taken place around Syria’s [Armenian-populated] Kesab area in recent days show that tendencies towards destabilization have greater geography that one would think. The situation is fraught with most serious challenges for Armenia, but the local political establishment does not seem to realize it yet.”
“Zhamanak” also regards the regional developments in the context of the latest announcement by American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick. He has tweeted that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Serzh Sarkisian and Ilham Aliyev, have agreed on a new meeting and the date of this meeting is now being specified. “The focal point of this meeting, no doubt, will be the assurance of the two presidents that neither of the parties will attempt to take advantage of the situation in Crimea, Russia’s international isolation and tensions between Moscow and the West or, which is most likely, make a deal with Russia and launch a military adventure in the direction of Nagorno-Karabakh. It is very difficult to say whether the international mediators will be successful in doing that, because events are unfolding very rapidly and it is very hard to say how stable and durable the so-called guarantees of the Sarkisian-Aliyev meeting will prove.”
Against the background of the developments around Syria’s Kesab “Haykakan Zhamanak” queries: “Why should Armenians live anywhere beside Armenia? No matter how deep historical roots Armenian communities have abroad, what is the purpose of Armenia then? Is this our country, our home and state or an outpost for Russia or Europe?” “We know that Armenia is not a good place for living. But was America always such an attractive country? We are losing Kesab today, but we are also losing Armenia,” the paper concludes.
“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” seeks to prove that Armenia’s response is not adequate to the events unfolding in the world and, in particular, in the region. “They [Armenian officials] have long ceased to be interested in what is happening in the rest of the world. For instance, Russia sells arms worth $3 billion to Azerbaijan. Our government’s response: speed cameras will be installed in some streets of Yerevan. Militants in Syria have seized Armenian Kesab. Our government’s response: new surveillance cameras will be installed at certain crossroads of the city. According to official data, 270,000 people have emigrated from Armenia during the last five years. Our government’s response: we allocate an additional 100 million drams (about $240,000) for flags to be placed in certain streets of Yerevan.”
(Tigran Avetisian)
“Zhamanak” also regards the regional developments in the context of the latest announcement by American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick. He has tweeted that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Serzh Sarkisian and Ilham Aliyev, have agreed on a new meeting and the date of this meeting is now being specified. “The focal point of this meeting, no doubt, will be the assurance of the two presidents that neither of the parties will attempt to take advantage of the situation in Crimea, Russia’s international isolation and tensions between Moscow and the West or, which is most likely, make a deal with Russia and launch a military adventure in the direction of Nagorno-Karabakh. It is very difficult to say whether the international mediators will be successful in doing that, because events are unfolding very rapidly and it is very hard to say how stable and durable the so-called guarantees of the Sarkisian-Aliyev meeting will prove.”
Against the background of the developments around Syria’s Kesab “Haykakan Zhamanak” queries: “Why should Armenians live anywhere beside Armenia? No matter how deep historical roots Armenian communities have abroad, what is the purpose of Armenia then? Is this our country, our home and state or an outpost for Russia or Europe?” “We know that Armenia is not a good place for living. But was America always such an attractive country? We are losing Kesab today, but we are also losing Armenia,” the paper concludes.
“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” seeks to prove that Armenia’s response is not adequate to the events unfolding in the world and, in particular, in the region. “They [Armenian officials] have long ceased to be interested in what is happening in the rest of the world. For instance, Russia sells arms worth $3 billion to Azerbaijan. Our government’s response: speed cameras will be installed in some streets of Yerevan. Militants in Syria have seized Armenian Kesab. Our government’s response: new surveillance cameras will be installed at certain crossroads of the city. According to official data, 270,000 people have emigrated from Armenia during the last five years. Our government’s response: we allocate an additional 100 million drams (about $240,000) for flags to be placed in certain streets of Yerevan.”
(Tigran Avetisian)