What Moscow will answer to Armenia's offer?

The editor in chief of the Bulletin of the Caucasus information and analytical agency, the deputy dean of the History Department of Moscow State University, a member of the Trend Expert Council, a political scientist, Alexei Vlasov, specially for Trend.

Will Russia build a radar station in Armenia instead of the radar station in Gabala, price on which has been increased by Azerbaijan from $7 million to 300 million?

Moscow has not yet answered to the proposal, announced by Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan in an interview with Kommersant. The Armenian and Russian experts comment this proposal currently, and mostly positive. There is even an opinion that Russia's proposal is revolutionary in terms of regional security.

In fact, everything is much more conservative. Simply, for many years Armenian authorities can not achieve Russia to build anything in Armenia. Armenia sought to build an oil refinery on the border with Iran during Robert Kocharian's presidency but Russia has refused, saying that it was an unprofitable project.

Then Armenia wanted Russia to invest in the companies obtained by the latter as a result of Armenia's external debt, but Russia did not use these companies and the establishment of free economic zone on the territory of "Mars" plant is still very doubtful.

Then, Armenia wanted Russia to build a new nuclear power plant, but Russia has only assumed the right to build, and stated that it was ready to finance one-fifth of the necessary funds.

Then, Armenia wanted Russia to build the Iran-Armenia railroad, but Moscow refused. It also refused from the North-South highway project and Armenia hopes only for the Asian Development Bank.

Apparently, Russia is guided by the principle of refusing to build in Armenia. Russia comes and takes everything that has been already constructed - the laid Armenia-Iran gas pipeline, the communication sector, the energy sector. Russia has created nothing new in independent Armenia.

Now Armenia wants Russia to build a radar station for Moscow to make at least some investments here. Perhaps, Armenia believes that Russia will not refuse at least from a military-political project.

But, apparently, Moscow won't do it. The refusal from construction in Armenia is the strategy of Russia, a matter of principle. Perhaps, this comes from the logic of the Russian elite, which understands that it would be impossible to keep Armenia under Russian influence for a long time, and national interests will win there. Russian orbit in its current capacity, retrograde and philosophy is entirely inadequate to this interest.


/Trend/