The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Nah, I was not ( I was just wondering...). What made you think so?

I guess I got worried because of the not so pleasant debate I had with Hellektor regarding Russian-Armenian relations. I have noticed that Persian Armenians, like Hellektor and yourself, get very sensitive when Armenians discuss issues pertaining to Iran. Like when Hellektor lost it when I insinuated that Russian-Armenians are more important - economically/politically - than other diasporan Armenians. It's just that I like you and I respect you, I don't want to upset you. Anyway, here is an interesting interview by given an Azeri political scientist regarding Russian-Armenian relations. I want Iranian-Armenians like you and Hellektor to fully understand the real geopolitical climate of the Caucasus and what Turks are thinking about Russian-Armenian relations:

Hikmet Hajizade: "Russia does not trust Azerbaijan, considering it to be a country of a different unfriendly civilization"

Day.Az interview with famous political scientist Hikmet Hajizade.

- What do you expect from official visit of Russian President Dmitri Medvedev to Azerbaijan, scheduled for July 3-4?

- Perhaps, several important intergovernmental issues will be discussed,but the most important, what Russia is concerned about are energy problems. Russia tries to prevent Caspian energy sources supply to the world market via Azerbaijan bypassing Russia. Moreover, Russia tries to possess the Caspian gas to strengthen monopolistic positions of Gazprom in ensuring gas for Europe. Perhaps, we will be persuaded to reject support of Georgia.

- A number of experts state that Russia is still ruled by Vladimir Putin, while Dmitri Medvedev fulfills purely representative functions. Do you agree with this point?

- Yes, it is this way so far, but I would like to note that Putin has once been not the sole ruler of Russia and was a representative of a powerful grouping comprising senior officers of the FSS and reconnaissance. Medvedev has not taken any steps, not envisioned by the strategy of the said grouping. His speech during the economic forum in Petersburg was in fact the repetition of the confrontation Munich speech of Putin. But let's not hurry. Medvedev has time for demonstrating himself as an independent politician.

- Vladimir Putin's presidency was marked with a thaw in the Azerbaijani-Russian relations. Can we expect further closing of our countries under Dmitri Medvedev?

- Well, anyway, the relations will not worsen significantly under him, except for any extraordinary cases. Some toughening of policy towards Azerbaijani migrants is possible, which can be prevented by our diplomacy.

- How far can Russia go in its loyalty to Azerbaijan and can we expect from Russia to impose pressure on Armenia strong enough for this country to return the occupied lands to us?

- Under the current course, laid in the mid 1990s and finally formed under Putin, no changes are expected in the Russia's policy towards conflicts in the Caucasus. Too much should change in Russia and in the world for Moscow to reject support of separatism in the Caucasus.

- What can Azerbaijan give to Russia in exchange for such steps as pressure on Armenia?

- Russia demands too much: to reject our independent external and energy policy, give up developing relations with Turkey and NATO, reject support to Georgia, join the Collective Security Treaty, allow Russian frontier guards to guard our borders and return troops to Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, by doing it all we will not have a guarantee that we will get Karabakh as Russia does not trust Azerbaijan considering it to be a part of a different unfriendly civilization. Russia strategists consider that Azerbaijan will always dream of being with Turkey, strive for European integration and independence from Russia.

Source: http://www.today.az/news/politics/45593.html

[Eric]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

- How far can Russia go in its loyalty to Azerbaijan and can we expect from Russia to impose pressure on Armenia strong enough for this country to return the occupied lands to us?

- Under the current course, laid in the mid 1990s and finally formed under Putin, no changes are expected in the Russia's policy towards conflicts in the Caucasus. Too much should change in Russia and in the world for Moscow to reject support of separatism in the Caucasus.

- What can Azerbaijan give to Russia in exchange for such steps as pressure on Armenia?

- Russia demands too much: to reject our independent external and energy policy, give up developing relations with Turkey and NATO, reject support to Georgia, join the Collective Security Treaty, allow Russian frontier guards to guard our borders and return troops to Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, by doing it all we will not have a guarantee that we will get Karabakh as Russia does not trust Azerbaijan considering it to be a part of a different unfriendly civilization. Russia strategists consider that Azerbaijan will always dream of being with Turkey, strive for European integration and independence from Russia.

Source: http://www.today.az/news/politics/45593.html[/QUOTE]

Wow I like the way he puts it, very sincere and truthful. Although I have always feared of one thing, through out history Russia has always seen Armenia as a secondary objective, and other nations to be more important. Shame on my memory but there was something like during the 1918s Armenian partisan forces took back some lands from western Armenia but later Russian abandoned the lands and handed back to turkey for no reason, just because one of the Bolshevik leaders thought that turks would join the union. Do you guys think that part of history could repeat itself in time? Meaning in Karabagh's case?

[Eric]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

One more question guys, my father tells me that our forces are very strong and well equipped but never goes into details. How well are our forces equipped and how combat ready are they. Lets not count the Russian 103rd base in Gyumri and other Russian forces, the Armenian Army itself. I have always wanted to know the equipment we use, I mean I am pretty sure what is shown during the parades is not the only arsenal we've got,(I remember it was during the 15th anniversary of freedom 3-4 days before the parade they do drills, me and my friend got close to a SAM personnel and asked him whether they are going to show some S-300s and they said " Ohhh thats a secret, how do you know about it, it is stationed at certain locations and cant show to people: so it is certain that there are so many other variates of weapons.

There is something else, the whole world is moving onto digital battlefield weapons and communication and more computer based technology even in ground forces (tanks, apc s artillery ...) are we doing similar upgrades?

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

[COLOR="Red"]Wow I like the way he puts it, very sincere and truthful. Although I have always feared of one thing, through out history Russia has always seen Armenia as a secondary objective, and other nations to be more important. Shame on my memory but there was something like during the 1918s Armenian partisan forces took back some lands from western Armenia but later Russian abandoned the lands and handed back to turkey for no reason, just because one of the Bolshevik leaders thought that turks would join the union. Do you guys think that part of history could repeat itself in time? Meaning in Karabagh's case?

We have beaten this topic to death already. You will find comments about this issue throughout this thread and several other threads.

To keep it short:

For Russia, Armenia is a geopolitical asset. For Armenia, Russia is a life line. This Caucasian reality, if I may, is in itself precarious for Armenia. Armenia, as a nation-state, exists simply due to Russia's presence in the region. However, at certain times we Armenians had serious problems with the superpower to the north. In the late 19th century Czarist Russia had problems with Armenian nationalists. In the early 20th century, Bolshevik occupied Russia gave away Armenian lands to Turks and Azeris. However, those who signed away Armenians lands to the Turks were the Bolsheviks, not Russians. The Bolsheviks did so because they were attempting to bring Turkey, a major geopolitical player unlike Armenia, into Bolshevism.

Tiny, landlocked, impoverished, resource-less nation surrounded by enemies does not hold much weight in geopolitics. Thus, we Armenians need to play a better role in Russian society. There is well over two million Armenians in Russia. Like Jews have molded American mindset towards Israel, we Armenians need to mold Russian mindset towards Armenia. Russia must be made to see Armenia as a crucial national asset that it must protect. Russians must be convinced that Armenia is an natural ally. Armenians must convince them that a powerful pro-Russian Armenia in the Caucasus will be a bulwork against Turkish, American, Iranian and/or NATO designs for the region.

Russia's national policy makers, intelligencia and nationalists already realize this about Armenia. As long as Russian nationalists are in power Armenia does not have much to worry about. From a nationalistic perspective, Russian-Armenian alliance is a natural union. All current indicators suggest that Armenia will continue playing a very important role in the Kremlin for the foreseeable future. However, another unforeseen calamity in the region may change that situation. Thus, Armenia needs to use its alliance with Russia today to build a viable economy and a powerful military so that 'if' things change in the Kremlin in the future Armenia would be better able to handle itself without Russian support.

The Caucasus is a tough and unforgiving neighborhood. I really don't see how Armenia would survive in the longterm without Russian protection. The situation we are in is not pretty. That is why I take politics seriously.

One more question guys, my father tells me that our forces are very strong and well equipped but never goes into details. How well are our forces equipped and how combat ready are they. Lets not count the Russian 103rd base in Gyumri and other Russian forces, the Armenian Army itself. I have always wanted to know the equipment we use, I mean I am pretty sure what is shown during the parades is not the only arsenal we've got,(I remember it was during the 15th anniversary of freedom 3-4 days before the parade they do drills, me and my friend got close to a SAM personnel and asked him whether they are going to show some S-300s and they said " Ohhh thats a secret, how do you know about it, it is stationed at certain locations and cant show to people: so it is certain that there are so many other variates of weapons. There is something else, the whole world is moving onto digital battlefield weapons and communication and more computer based technology even in ground forces (tanks, apc s artillery ...) are we doing similar upgrades?

The only things I know about the Armenian military is what been made public. Nevertheless, it's considered to be the most capable in the Trans-Caucasus. They conduct military exercises frequently, they have modern armaments, and they receive a lot of Russian help. However, this question is for a different thread.

[North Pole]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Unknown to many, the editor-in-chief of the English language news agency called Russia Today (Russia's version of CNN) is a very capable (and very pretty) young women named Margarita Simonyan. Simonyan is said to be the youngest head of any major news establishment. Needless to say, as a result of her highly sensitive position in Russia Today Simonyan also holds a very influential position in Moscow. Highly influential Armenians in Russia like Chilingarov, Abrahamian, Lavrov, Poghosyan, Simonyan and many other like them exemplify precisely what I mean when I say Armenians of Russia are a great "strategic" asset to the Armenian Republic regardless of whether or not they are assimilated. I would even dare to say that within the Armenian diaspora Russia is unique in that "assimilated" Armenians there can and do positively impact the Armenian Republic better than the un-assimilated ones. I would like to see more Armenians becoming an integral part of Russia's national fabric.

Armenian

************************

Russia Today is the face of Russia today

Margarita Simonyan – Editor-in-Chief of Russia Today. At 26, in the world today, she is the youngest head of a global news and entertainment TV channel. In the past year formerly vocal critics of the channel have been replaced by a more balanced discussion about what type of news an English-speaking audience expects from a Russian information channel broadcasting only in English. Our Editor Jeremy Noble interviewed Margarita Simonyan in her office, on the one-year anniversary of Russia Today. (The interview naturally was in English).

Margarita Simonyan is Editor-in-Chief of Russia Today?

Wait a minute..... wait a minute....

So what do we have here..... The General Director of a major Russian manufacturer of fighter jets is an Armenian.
And now I've learned that the editor-in-chief of Russia Today is Armenian too?

I am getting suspicious now. Is there a secret Armenia's plan to place its people into the key positions in Russia?
What's going on here, Armenian?

Sukhoi Co. General Director Mikhail Pogosyan

Sukhoi Company (JSC) - Main page

[North Pole]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

By the way, is Russian foreign minister Lavrov an Armenian too?


From Wiki:

Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov (Russian: Серге́й Ви́кторович Лавро́в, born March 21, 1950, in Moscow) is the Foreign Minister of Russia.
He is Armenian-Russian; his father was an Armenian from Tbilisi.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Lavrov

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Wait a minute..... wait a minute....

So what do we have here..... The General Director of a major Russian manufacturer of fighter jets is an Armenian.
And now I've learned that the editor-in-chief of Russia Today is Armenian too?

You forgot Arthur Chilingarov, the deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma and world famous Arctic explorer

Artur Chilingarov

Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma,"Hero of Russia," explorer, oceanographer and engineer Artur Chilingarov posing for picture after his historic mission to the bottom of the North Pole in the Arctic ocean

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday granted "hero" awards to scientists backing Russia's claim to a mountain range under the Arctic Ocean that is believed to contain huge oil and gas reserves. The scientists planted a Russian flag under the North Pole ice in August as part of an Arctic expedition that heated up the controversy over an area that a U.S. study suggests may contain as much as 25 percent of the world's undiscovered oil and gas. Russia is one of several countries that have laid claims to the area. Putin signed a decree awarding three members of the expedition the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. They are Anatoly Salagevich, Yevgeny Chernyayev and lawmaker Artur Chilingarov. A fourth expedition member, lawmaker Vladimir Gruzdev, was granted the Order for Service to the Fatherland, the Kremlin said. Russia's Natural Resources Ministry has said preliminary results on soil core samples gathered by the expedition show that the 1,240-mile Lomonosov Ridge under the Arctic is part of Russia's shelf. It said more geological tests would be conducted, as well. After the Russian expedition, Canada vowed to increase its icebreaker fleet and build two new military facilities in the Arctic, while Denmark sent a team of scientists to seek evidence that the ridge was attached to its territory of Greenland. The U.S. government also sent an icebreaker for a research expedition. The issue has become more urgent with growing evidence that global warming is shrinking polar ice — opening up resource development and new shipping lanes. The 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea gives the Arctic countries 10 years after they ratify the treaty to prove their claims under the largely uncharted polar ice pack. All but the United States have ratified the treaty. Chilingarov, a renowned polar scientist, was named a Hero of the Soviet Union in the 1980s after leading an expedition aboard a research vessel that was trapped for a time in Antarctic sea ice.

Source: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j...j5nGAD8U3060O0

ARMENIANS IN POLITICS: ADAPTING TO THE NEW RUSSIA

Moscow by David Zenian

The rules of engagement in Russian politics have changed dramatically since the collapse of the Soviet Union a decade ago, but Arthur Chilingarov has climbed the political ladder to hold the position of Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, the 450-member lower house of the Russian Parliament. Sahak Karapetyan also entered politics after the collapse of the Soviet Union and like Chilingarov, he too was elected to the Duma and served for four years before his appointment to his new position as Senior Assistant to the General Prosecutor of the Russian Federation. Lt. Gen. Yevgeni Gurgenovich Batalov may have stayed in active duty if not for his advanced age of 76. All three men are Russian born Armenians who have integrated into Russian society and served their country while maintaining their ethnic identity and adapting to the changes around them.

“I don’t look at my Armenian roots from a narrow perspective,” explained Chilingarov during a recent interview in his Moscow office.

“I am a Russian-Armenian and Russia is my country, just like the United States is for American-Armenians. I will serve both as best as I can,” he said.

Chilingarov was born in Leningrad (St. Petersburg) in 1939 and grew up in an Armenian family, but he had few Armenian friends. “I might have had more Armenian friends and interaction with fellow Armenians if we had a working church in St. Petersburg, but things were different then,” he said. Chilingarov, who accompanied President Putin during a visit to Armenia last year, admits that maybe he is not a very religious person, but is quick to add that the church should have a prominent place in modern society.

“I visit Armenia at least once a year and have very close relations with His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II. I am convinced that the stronger the Armenian Church becomes, the stronger will relations between Armenia and Russia become too.

“The Russian church is a very powerful institution and has a say in what happens here. The same should be true with the Armenian church,” Chilingarov said.

“Russian politics is unique. Despite the large size of the Armenian population in Russia, they cannot have any political clout—not for a long time anyway. But a strong Armenian Church is a different matter. There is respect for the church here,” he said.

A 1963 graduate of the Arctic Faculty of the Leningrad Marine Institute with a degree in engineering-oceanography, Chilingarov began his career at the Tiksi Observatory of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute. Despite his busy schedule as a politician, Chilingarov, who has spent the better part of his adult life on the icebergs of the Arctic and is the author of 50 scientific publications, still finds time for his science and research. During his long career, he has been awarded the Order of Lenin, Hero of the Soviet Union medal, and membership in the Russian Academy of Sciences, and since 1992 assumed the presidency of the Polar Explorers’ Association.

He entered politics “from the back door”—or at least not as a representative of any political party. His work as a scientist had kept him in Russia’s Ninens Autonomous District, some 1,600 kilometers northeast of Moscow, close to the North Pole. According to the Russian constitution, the region was entitled to one deputy to represent it in the Russian Duma, and the choice was Chilingarov. He was elected with an overwhelming majority and upon arrival in Moscow he campaigned and was elected to the prestigious post of deputy Chairman of the State Duma—a position, which he still holds.

“It’s been almost 40 years since my first Arctic experience, and it is still my first love. Politics is a career, but the Arctic is my passion,” he said with a broad smile pointing at the dozens of momentos from his numerous expeditions, including his last one to the South Pole in January, 2002.

Chilingarov was the first Armenian to reach the South Pole with a team of scientists who flew on a modified Antonov III aircraft piloted by Ukrainian-born Sergei Tarasuk, whose mother is Armenian.

“As much as I was part of a Russian expedition, I was still an Armenian there. My colleagues found it very amusing when I put up a wooden marker with the distances from where we were to the cities representing the origins of team members.

“The marker, which is still there, clearly says Yerevan, 16,116 kilometers. Of course it also gives the distances from Moscow and Kiev, and St. Petersburg, my birthplace.

“I also took a bottle of Armenian brandy with me as a gift to the American team which was also involved in the expedition,” Chilingarov said with a huge smile on his face. As an Armenian, I cannot celebrate an important occasion without some Armenian brandy,” he said...

[zeytuntsi]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

the editor-in-chief of the English language news agency called Russia Today (Russia's version of CNN) is a very capable (and very pretty) young women named Margarita Simonyan. Simonyan is said to be the youngest head of any major news establishment. Needless to say, as a result of her highly sensitive position in Russia Today Simonyan also holds a very influential position in Moscow...exemplify precisely what I mean when I say Armenians of Russia are a great "strategic" asset to the Armenian Republic

"'strategic' asset to the Armenian Republic" as in ignore and seldom cover the news from Armenia but frequently cover what happens in Georgia? A real "strategic" asset.

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

By the way, is Russian foreign minister Lavrov an Armenian too?

I'm afraid so...

From Russia With Love?: Foreign Minister’s visit an opportunity for assessment


Sergei Lavrov: "Armenian Brandy Is Better Than French Cognac"

By Aris Ghazinyan, ArmeniaNow Reporter

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was on an official visit to Yerevan the past two days. His first visit to Armenia fell on the historical stage when pro-Western sentiments not traditional for the overwhelming majority of Armenians are on the rise in the public and political life of the republic. The first time these sentiments made themselves felt as a special internal political factor was during the latest presidential elections in 2003. However, now there are a dozen political and public organizations in the republic demonstratively stating the need for Armenia’s new orientation towards the West and NATO. Never before have such sentiments made themselves felt so strongly in Armenia.

On the day of the Russian minister’s arrival in Yerevan, the leader of the Liberal-Progressive Party of Armenia (LPPA) Hovhannes Hovhannisyan called a press conference during which he stated: “Armenia’s security is in NATO, since Armenia’s strategic partner, Russia, proceeding from its interests, may change its position towards Yerevan at any moment. Revolutions in the post-Soviet space are unavoidable in the next year or two. There will be a revolution in Armenia too.” Representatives of other opposition parties also speak about the need to reorient Armenia’s foreign policy towards the West.

“It is remarkable that while new pro-Western political structures have already been formed in Armenia, no party openly propagandizing the Russian vector of foreign policy has appeared in the country yet,” Vardan Mkhitaryan, a historian and researcher at the Chair of the History of the Armenian People of the Yerevan State University, said in this connection. Meanwhile, the political structures traditionally inclined towards boosted Armenian-Russian relations for their part accentuate attention on the insufficient level of development of these ties. What is particularly pointed out is Russia’s neutral, at best, position on Nagorno Karabakh, which, in the opinion of Armenian parties cannot correspond to the officially declared level of strategic relationship. According to political analysts, also symptomatic is the fact that while 2005 is declared the Year of Russia in Armenia, in Russia this year is determined as the Year of Azerbaijan. This was stated in Moscow by President Vladimir Putin and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan on the same day Lavrov arrived in Yerevan.

“What is striking in this connection is that the visits of high-ranking Russian officials to Armenia, as a rule, are chronologically replaced by equally ‘high-level’ meetings already on the plane of Russian-Azeri ties,” says Mkhitaryan. “The visit of the Russian Foreign Minister to Yerevan is not an exception: on February 16-17 Putin and Aliyev discussed the Karabakh settlement in Moscow.” The presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan met four times in 2004, while Putin and Armenian President Robert Kocharyan had two meetings. A total of 17 government delegation of the Russian Federation visited Baku during last year, and the commodity turnover between Russia and Azerbaijan increased by 60% and made $735 million. During the same period, the commodity turnover between Russia and Armenia grew by 12.9% and made $266.2 million.

But the greatest annoyance in Armenia is caused by the position repeatedly voiced by the Kremlin about Russia’s support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. In August of last year Lavrov himself told an AzerTaj’s correspondent: “Russia has been supporting consistently and in full measure the principle of territorial integrity. This applies to Azerbaijan as well.” Nevertheless, the recent visit of Russia’s foreign minister to Baku deserves special attention. Answering on February 2 the question of an Azeri journalist about Russia’s priorities in the principles of “territorial integrity” and “the right of nations to self-determination”, Lavrov said: “One should not set off these two principles against each other, since both of them are stated in the UN Charter and should not be applied to the detriment of each other.” Some Azeri mass media already then hurried to “interpret” such a reply of the Russian diplomat in the context of his Armenian origin, reminding that during last year’s visit of Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian to Moscow, Lavrov said:

“Yes, I have Armenian blood in my veins. My father is an Armenian from Tbilisi.”

That he has Armenian blood his veins Lavrov also repeated in Yerevan during a meeting with students of the Russian-Armenian Slavonic University yesterday. However, at the same time he made it clear that his Baku statement was not understood quite correctly. He made it clear that Russia supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, for “Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity is recognized by the international community, including by the UN and other international structures.” Thursday Lavrov met with Kocharyan, Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan and Oskanian. Four main subjects were discussed during the meetings: the Karabakh problem, bilateral cooperation, regional cooperation and cooperation within international structures.

It is cooperation within international structures that is one of the most delicate problems in Armenian-Russian relations. It is commonly known that all initiatives of the Azeri delegation in the PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe), including on Nagorno Karabakh, as a rule find support of the Russian delegation, while none of the initiatives of the Armenian delegation has yet been supported by the Russian delegation. Does this state of affairs correspond to the “strategic” level of relations between Armenia and Russia? “The parliamentary delegation of Russia to the PACE, just like other delegations, does not receive any instructions,” said Lavrov on this account. In his meeting with Lavrov, Margaryan expressed his concern over the building of communications projected within the framework of the “North-South” transit corridor, bypassing Armenia. In particular, he pointed to the Russian-Azeri-Iranian consortium building a railroad in the direction of Astara (Azerbaijan) – Resht (Iran) – Kazvin (Iran).

In reply to this remark of the Armenian premier, Lavrov said that from now on Russia would consider also Armenia’s interests in developing its transport strategy. He promised to notify Russia’s Minister of Transport about it. Last autumn Russia limited the use of the only stable motorway connecting Armenia with Russia through Georgia at Upper Lars checkpoint (North Ossetia, Russia) – Kazbek. Thus, Lavrov’s official visit to Yerevan also exposed flaws in the officially declared policy of strategic partnership. We will be able to judge as to how these flaws can be put right only after Putin’s visit to Armenia. The date of this visit has not been set yet, but as the Russian minister said the sides will come to agreement as to the terms of the visit within the coming weeks after which the date will be declared.

Source: http://www.armenianow.com/archive/20...o=print&id=554

Sergey Lavrov laid wreath to Genocide Memorial

Today Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex, where he laid a wreath to the Memorial of Armenian Genocide victims. The head of Russian MFA also planted a memorable fir-tree in the alley near the Memorial. Armenian and Russian Ambassadors Armen Smbatyan and Nilolai Pavlov accompanied Sergey Lavrov.

Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/...ate=2007-04-03

Lavrov: We Are and Have Been Allies with Armenia

Historical and spiritual closeness of the two peoples is the pledge for Armenian-Russian union, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov stated in Moscow on the Public TV Company of Armenia at a reception in honor of celebration of the 15th anniversary of Armenia’s Independence. “We are and we have been allies with Armenia. Historical and spiritual closeness of the two peoples is the pledge for Armenian-Russian union,” he said. “Many Armenians now work and live in Russia. Call the name of Armen Jigarkhanyan – there is no Russian, who does not know or love him,” the Minister remarked. “Of course we have separated as republics of the USSR, however we are overcoming that hard period,” Sergey Lavrov added, reported PanARMENIAN.Net.

Source: http://www.yerkir.am/eng/index.php?s...s_arm&id=26853

Russia Signals Opposition To Regime Change In Armenia

Russia signaled on Tuesday its opposition to regime change in Yerevan, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pointedly declining to deny speculation that Moscow supports Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian’s apparent plans to become Armenia’s next president. Lavrov, in Yerevan on a two-day official visit, stressed the need for continuity in policies pursued by the current Armenian leadership. During a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian he was asked to comment on growing assertions by Russian media and prominent analysts that the widely anticipated handover of power from President Robert Kocharian to Sarkisian suits the Kremlin. “The official position of Russia coincides with the unofficial position of Russia,” Lavrov replied. “We are sincerely interested in seeing Armenia stable and prosperous and seeing it continue to move down the path of reforms. As far as we can see, the results [of those reforms] are already felt in the socioeconomic sphere.” “So we wish Armenia success in this endeavor,” he added. “We want the next phase of the constitutional process to lead to the creation of conditions for a continued movement in that direction.” Kocharian is thought to have enjoyed Russian backing throughout his nearly decade-long presidency. Both he and Sarkisian stand for Armenia’s continued military alliance with Russia, while seeking closer security ties with the West. The Kocharian administration has also helped to significantly boosted Russia’s economic presence in the country in recent years. The Russian minister’s visit to Armenia was officially dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two former Soviet republics.

Source: http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2....2515&PageNum=0

U.S. journalist says Russia's Lavrov outplays Condoleezza Rice

A Washington Post journalist has said that Russia's foreign minister regularly outmaneuvers U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in talks when it comes to securing foreign policy benefits for Russia. "[Sergei] Lavrov pushes her buttons," Glenn Kessler said Thursday night at the presentation of his new book, "The Confidante: Condoleezza Rice and the Creation of Bush Legacy." In his book, Kessler writes:

"Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, who honed his negotiating skills during a 10-year stint as Russia's UN ambassador, is a proud and frequently effective diplomat - a showman who doesn't hesitate to use a diplomatic stiletto." The journalist, who has accompanied Rice many times on international flights and has covered most of her foreign visits, says: "But Rice came to appreciate Lavrov's straightforward and serious approach. She concluded that if he says he will do something, he will - and if he says he will not do it, he won't."

"Diplomats said Lavrov has perfected the art of irritating Rice - so much so that she often responds in a very sharp, acerbic, and even emotional way. Rice's reaction is so shrill that she begins to lose her natural allies in the room, in contrast to the calmer and more menacing Lavrov. He frequently exploits that dynamic to his advantage," Kessler said in the book. Kessler has interviewed many U.S. and foreign diplomats for his book and has had his observations confirmed by a variety of sources, in particular by former French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy.

At the presentation, Kessler said that despite her knowledge of Russian language and history, Rice is not very good in her work with Russia. "While Rice had trained as a Soviet specialist and still practices Russian once a week with a State Department interpreter, Russian diplomats are privately contemptuous of her knowledge of contemporary Russia, believing she is stuck in a time warp and doesn't understand the country." Kessler writes about some little known facts, such as a conversation during a closed meeting between Rice and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"In their private meeting, Merkel, a fluent Russian speaker who had trained as a physical chemist in the former East Germany, teasingly tested Rice's rusty Russian," he writes, citing Wolfgang Ischinger, Germany's ambassador to London who formerly was Germany's ambassador to the U.S. Kessler said that his biographic book on Rice gives an unbiased picture of the pluses and minuses in the work of the U.S. Secretary of State, but admitted that certain conclusions could be unpleasant for the presidential administration.

"Rice fundamentally lacks a strategic vision. Her approach has been largely tactical, a series of ad hoc efforts designed to deal with an unfolding series of crises that itemed from decisions she had helped make in the first term [of President George Bush]."

"...she is the confidante of a president widely considered a failure... Rice has failed to provide him with a coherent foreign policy vision," he writes. Kessler said that Rice still has close contact with Bush, with whom she regularly meets and whom she sends personal notes on foreign policy. He cites her answer to critics: "I'm enough of an historian to know that my reputation will be what my 'reputation' is. It might be different in five months from five years to fifty years, and so I'm simply not going to worry about that."

Source: http://en.rian.ru/world/20070907/77385951.html

[zeytuntsi]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Margarita Simonyan is Editor-in-Chief of Russia Today?

Wait a minute..... wait a minute....

I am getting suspicious now. Is there a secret Armenia's plan to place its people into the key positions in Russia?
What's going on here, Armenian?

I would not worry too much about her and I don't see how useful she is for Armenia?