While the whole political field and society are fully delved in the pre-election developments the government takes more dangerous and suspicious steps in the foreign political sector. A few days ago Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan during his interview to Kommersant Russian newspaper stated that in the event if Russia and Azerbaijan do not come to an agreement regarding Gabala radar stations Armenia will be ready to provide territory to Russia for the construction of such a station. “If Russia and Azerbaijan don’t come to an agreement regarding the construction of a radar station in Gabala and the leasing terms of the land will Armenia be ready to provide territory to Russia for the construction of such a station?” this question was asked by a Kommersant reporter. To this question the Armenian Premier responded, “Why not? If our territory creates certain interest for Russia we will be ready to discuss that possibility.” He also proudly added, “If our territory is of such interest, we are ready to discuss this issue. I think that there may be even preference, as Armenia is a mountainous country. Coverage can be broader.” It is evident that this is not a spontaneous interview and that the interview was organized by the Russian government based on the trends of the mentioned source as well as the questions asked during the interview. And the picture becomes even more understandable that the interview was publicized on the next day of the completion of the working visit of the Russian foreign affairs minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Armenia (at that time Lavrov was already negotiating in Baku regarding the construction of the station in Gabala). The problem is that Russia offers Azerbaijan an annual $300 million rent for its radar station instead of the past $7 million dollars and the dates of the agreement signed in 2002 expires on December 24 of the current year. More simply said, Lavrov assigned Tigran Sargsyan to make such a statement in order to “bargain” this possibility with the authorities of Azerbaijan. And all this is done in the most rigid way even without maintaining elementary formalities. Blaming the Russian authorities in this is as meaningless as blaming Tigran Sargsyan for not functioning, relying on the national interests of Armenia. Russians are very pragmatic in this. Last year the Armenian government agreed to stretch the duration of the agreement on the deployment of Russian military bases in Gyumri for another 49 years. Last year Armenia irreversibly granted a few territories to Russia. After all this, what can ban the construction of the Gabala radar station in Armenia? And it’s also clear why this matter is being discussed now. Armenia undergoes in the election cycle in a month, which will have a decisive meaning for the 2013 presidential elections. Under these circumstances, opposing the Russian authorities will mean to lose their support in the elections of the next year. As of the fact that these statements are made by the Armenian Prime Minister then this is understandable as well. Last week the Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin, who won the presidential race, sent a letter to the Armenian Premier and thanked him for sending him a letter of support for the victory of Putin in the elections. So this was a thank you, received on “credit.” In the near future we can also expect some “gratitude letter” or a medal personally from Putin. For this type of honor one day the Republic Square may also be given out to Russia for a construction of some military station.
