Is Russia an ally or foe, nowadays?

[londontsi]

Re: Is Russia an ally or foe, nowadays?

That is not true, there are many other reasons that Turkey or Azerbaijan have not attacked Armenia or Artsakh.

Azerbaijan was attacking Armenia proper, specifically Kapan. Presumably to link with Nakhichevan.
Turkey did not attack Armenia because it was not a party to the war.
It flirted with the idea of intervening, because it sensed a political/military vacuum.
This is where it was warned/threatened not to by Russia.

Also, Armenia needs to be fluid in this dangerous neighborhood and not static putting all eggs in one basket.

When you enter into an alliance, first rule is to build trust by becoming a reliable ally.
Second rule is expect, demand, pressure, argue what you expect as a partner of that alliance.
Look around and see how other members of different alliances behave, even much much stronger countries.
Look at UK, France or Germany do they flirt left right and centre?

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[hagopn]

Re: Is Russia an ally or foe, nowadays?

Eddo, I can think of economic reasons, such as the possible disruption of oil production for Azerbaijan. What other reasons?

[Eddo211]

Re: Is Russia an ally or foe, nowadays?

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This subject may becoming off topic, but if we understand the whys by looking back in history we would be more in tune the course we are taking.

In any event the full article link

The only reason why Turkey refrained from attacking Armenia in 1993 was their concern as to Russia’s response. The only reason why Azerbaijan did not attack Armenia during the Russian-Georgian war of 2008 was because of their concern as to Russia’s response. Accordingly, one of the main reasons Armenia exists today and is not overrun by its hostile neighbors is not because Armenia’s adversaries are afraid of “Christian” Europe’s response – we all know how they responded when TurkeyattackedCyprus – but because they are afraid of Russia’s response.

http://times.am/?p=32715&l=ru

That is not true, there are many other reasons that Turkey or Azerbaijan have not attacked Armenia or Artsakh.
Also, Armenia needs to be fluid in this dangerous neighborhood and not static putting all eggs in one basket.

[hagopn]

Re: Is Russia an ally or foe, nowadays?

In today's context, the same rule applies. Instead of infighting due to ignorance of history, geopolitics, ourselves, hopefully (what a loaded word) we can start thinking about making economic and intellectual gains. So we're winning the chess olympiads, eh? The proposal by economists to establish a "voch humqayin tntesutyun" is on the books since the 1970s, ignored by Demirjian and subsequent administrators. I seriously doubt that Oligarch, Russian or American "interference" has much control over the development of the highly profitable high-tech sector that already has some foundations in Armenia. No one seems to have "interfered" as of yet while all the important microchip and board manufacturers from US, Taiwain, Korea, etc, have contracted Armenian firms to be their R&D sector in the region, no one except that creature called Indifference.

As Peter I's conditions on Israeli Ori's proposals are of any lesson, no "empire" will invest in you if you're not willing to invest in yourself.

[hagopn]

Re: Is Russia an ally or foe, nowadays?

.
n 1918 Diana Agabeg Apcar, Armenia’s first female diplomat, wrote the following “…the Armenians on their part have also been guilty since 1878 onwards of two gigantic errors. They have trusted and hoped in “Christian Governments.” The denseness of the Armenian mind in this connection has been amazing. Armenians have been accredited with native shrewdness but certainly no people could have proved more astonishingly stupid than they have proved themselves on this particular point. The other gigantic error of which the Armenians have been guilty ofis that the nation as a whole did not support the Armenian revolutionaries.”

I don't agree with this last paragraph. It was precisely because of the "socialist fever" and the rush into the revolutionary mood we became Don Quixotic. Some revolutionaries were armed, while most of the population was unarmed, unprepared, unaware, and yet we are blaming "Armenian stupidity in not supporting the revolutionaries"? The stupidest thing we did was not adhere to the Armenakan plan, the plan of preparation and arming of the population, of developing a clear strategy, of consolidating Armenian power in Armenia proper instead of outlying cosmpolitan centers such as Constantinople, Tiflis, Moscow, etcwhich is ignored and not taught to the Armenian public for reason that would embarrass the current "traditional party" establishment beyond repair.

Russian policy toward Armenians was not consistent from 1828 to 1915 to say the least, and the only guarantee to buffer this fluctuation of the Bear's moods was stronger Armenian positioning versus the "revolutionary" gamble of blowing up banks with the hope of securing "Christendom"s sympathy and interference in Ottoman affairs in our favor.

[Hakob]

Re: Is Russia an ally or foe, nowadays?

f

Hakop i think you are way off on these two points - think Google.. I wish people would stay on topic.
I see also that the most powerfull american world culture has not chocked national cultures around the world
I think internet is going to cause empiral media hegemonies to break up into small and uncontrollable pieces.

Yes Google also. I am not talking about media giant controlling the market. I am talking everybody, everynationality can google and find any material about their national interests.
25 years ago diasporan Armenian had to rely either moscow's agencies or western official agencies (both full of lies and propaganda) for news about country. Not any more. You want to know any detail about happenings back home, just google it, go to yahoo or go to forums.
Google it to translate, to find books, find aybbenaran online and tutorials.
If google leaves those out it runs the risk f loosing markets internationally.
Am i missing something?
Maybe this is not where to discuss this, sorry. But our thoughts came to this from population loss in Armenia and assimilation abroad.
This is something also pertaining to russian Armenians. They also connect to motherland tru this.
By the way, did anybody see the inauguration of Armenian church in moscow? It is the biggest one outside of Armenia. Remember< i sayd that Armenians in Russia are organising fast?
One thing interesting is that Armenians there were pretty upset that Putin did not show up. That maybe is a sign of growing influence.
Also Putin hurried later to congratulate Serj on the occasion of our independence. He maybe wanted to minimize latest negative publicity on russia's poilicies against Armenian suvereinity.

[Haykakan]

Re: Is Russia an ally or foe, nowadays?

Hakop i think you are way off on these two points - think Google.. I wish people would stay on topic.
I see also that the most powerfull american world culture has not chocked national cultures around the world
I think internet is going to cause empiral media hegemonies to break up into small and uncontrollable pieces.

[Hakob]

Re: Is Russia an ally or foe, nowadays?

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This subject may becoming off topic, but if we understand the whys by looking back in history we would be more in tune the course we are taking.

In any event the full article link
http://times.am/?p=32715&l=ru

This should end discussions in this forum.

[londontsi]

Re: Is Russia an ally or foe, nowadays?

.



This subject may becoming off topic, but if we understand the whys by looking back in history we would be more in tune the course we are taking.

In any event the full article link

http://times.am/?p=32715&l=ru

Is Russia a Friend or a Foe?


Over the past few years Armenia has, both on the political and economic level followed an increasingly pro-European path .........

Lessons from the Past

During the Fourth General Congress of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, which took place in 1907, one of the main items on the agenda was the “Caucasian Plan,” which called for Armenians to struggle against Tsarist tyranny and buildup socialism in the Caucasus. Armenian military commander, Andranik Ozanyan, opposed this plan arguing that it would weaken the struggle of Armenians trying to liberate their motherland, since Armenia would have too many enemies at the same time; Armenia shouldn’t try to alienate Russia as well. After the adoption of the plan, hestated that, “by adopting this (plan), we have already half-buried the Armenian Cause.” Unfortunately, time proved him right.

The Armenian leadership at that time did not have the political foresight and chose to fight two sides. The Armenian leadership today seems to have no political foresight by trying to constantly please all sides. The similarity between the above-mentioned examples is clear; one remains stuck in the middle. Margaret Thatcher wisely said, “standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous, since you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides.”

Armenia, geographically located in one of the most politically unstable and dangerous regions in the world, is not able to survive on its own. Turkey is continuing its cultural genocide and is tryingto suffocate Armenia by all means. Azerbaijan is spending billions acquiring military armament and is preparing its population for war. It is of utmost importance that Armenia’s foreign policy orientation should be in line with the core issue it faces today, namely its security aspect. Russia is and will remain the only country that is able and willing to provide Armenia with significant security guarantees. As the following proverb aptly says, “better a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.”

The only reason why Turkey refrained from attacking Armenia in 1993 was their concern as to Russia’s response. The only reason why Azerbaijan did not attack Armenia during the Russian-Georgian war of 2008 was because of their concern as to Russia’s response. Accordingly, one of the main reasons Armenia exists today and is not overrun by its hostile neighbors is not because Armenia’s adversaries are afraid of “Christian” Europe’s response – we all know how they responded when TurkeyattackedCyprus – but because they are afraid of Russia’s response.

In 1918 Diana Agabeg Apcar, Armenia’s first female diplomat, wrote the following “…the Armenians on their part have also been guilty since 1878 onwards of two gigantic errors. They have trusted and hoped in “Christian Governments.” The denseness of the Armenian mind in this connection has been amazing. Armenians have been accredited with native shrewdness but certainly no people could have proved more astonishingly stupid than they have proved themselves on this particular point. The other gigantic error of which the Armenians have been guilty ofis that the nation as a whole did not support the Armenian revolutionaries.”

Recklessly choosing to follow EU’s course and sorisk losing Russia’s security guarantees, would be like promising the Netherlands prospective economic gains on the condition that they remove the dams that protect their country from flooding.

Coinciding Interests
.........

[hagopn]

Re: Is Russia an ally or foe, nowadays?

The irony is that the hottest selling OCR software, Fine Reader, is an Armenian owned and created product. Fine Reader does well in reading certain Armenian fonts, but clearly there is yet work to be done on this. I have tried using it especially on the old "parz" fonts, but it fails to scan the majority of terms. Has anyone found something that works well? I realize it's off topic. I will search in the tech section.