“Clearly, something is wrong with the Russian-Armenian allied relationship,” “168 Zham” writes in a commentary on growing Armenian discontent with Russia’s controversial arms deals with Azerbaijan. “That is the result of a unilateral and consistent violation by Russia of Armenia’s interests and the Armenian authorities’ submissive acceptance of that. Now that the Armenian authorities have started speaking about that publicly, albeit with caution, Russia seems to be getting worried.” The paper suggests that the Russians have fuelled speculation that Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian “has been summoned to Moscow to give explanations.”
“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” sees a dramatic worsening of the economic situation in Armenia, saying that the Armenian dram will again come under pressure in May. Citing data from the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA), the pro-opposition paper points out that Armenian commercial banks continued to raise their interest rates in February. The official average rate reached almost 19 percent, making credit even more expensive for businesses. “In reality, the actual interest rates are as high as 21-22 percent,” says the paper.
“Zhamanak” looks at the political future of Abovian, a small town north of Yerevan that has long been regarded as businessman Gagik Tsarukian’s fiefdom not quite controlled by the central government. The paper says that an upcoming mayoral election there, called because of the Tsarukian-linked incumbent Mayor Karapet Guloyan’s appointment as governor of Armenia’s central Kotayk province, will therefore be of “pivotal importance.”
(Karlen Aslanian)