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ARMENIA HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT REGIONAL FACTOR
Below is an interview of the ex-premier of Armenia, Chairman of the
Board of Trustees of the International Center of Human Development,
Rector of the Russian-Armenian Slavonic University Armen Darbinian.
Q: Mr. Darbinian, when the prime minister of Armenia You attached
paramount importance to Armenia's role in the regional processes.
Then You made a number of proposals for the lifting of the
blockade of the railway sections Baku-Yerevan, Kars-Gyumri and
others. However, then, in 1998, these initiatives did not meet with a
proper reaction, including on the part of the European Union. Four
years later, the EU has reverted to these initiatives and even
assumed a locomotive role. What do You explain the change in this
position by?
A: First, I would like to note that without the recognition of the
role, place and functions Armenia is assuming in the region, any
attempts to create formulae of getting out of the socio-economic
crisis are doomed to failure. And the sooner the public and political
leaders in Georgia and Azerbaijan agree to this statement of the
question the better guaranteed will be the situation with foreign
assistance, and foreign donors, international organizations,
governments and the European community will be ready to assist the
region in attaining the appropriate regional goals agreed. A certain
shift of emphasis to the realization of the significance of
common regional interests has been observed during the last few
years. The fact that a model of economic and political development of
the existing states in isolation from regional priorities and
prospects is impossible to invent has become obvious not only to
international observers, transnational companies and corporations,
but also to internal forces both in Armenia and in Azerbaijan and
Georgia. After all, time has shown that it is impossible to create
"an oasis vacuum" Azerbaijan was dreaming of, hoping that the
development of oil deposits will lead to economic boom and
prosperity. There appear more and more reasonable politicians in
Azerbaijan who realize the necessity for considering
regional interests and development of economic prospects of
Azerbaijan in the context of regional interests. The support that we
have lately felt on the part of the European community, other
governments and international organizations, in the regional
integration is also explained by the appearance of politicians who
think in a new way. And involvement in any regional program implies
assuming corresponding functions and receiving dividends. I would
like to remind you that Armenia proposed the creation of
corresponding corridors and guaranteed their operation in Armenia's
territory, but called for a reasonable approach to the relevant
infrastructure. It is quite clear that no reasonable business
initiative will envisage the creation of new infrastructure if
operating one is available. So, our position was based on two
postulates. First, the possibility of economic development and
ensuring of well-being in individual countries of the Caucasus
without considering regional interests and the region as a subject of
such interests. Secondly, basing on the existing infrastructure
and considering the potential available is highly reasonable. It is a
pledge of commercial interest which can be exploited in the region.
Q: Do not the two factors - the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the
political realization of Armenia's role in the region on the one
hand and the commercial interest on the other - collide with each
other in this matter?
A: During the implementation of any programs economic and commercial
interest is in the first place. And if a program is not a benevolent
one, it must be aimed at getting profits. Natural, when such programs
as development of oil deposits and transportation of oil to Europe
are in question, the principle of getting profits in especially
right. Nobody declared that the Baku-Ceyhan project is benevolent, it
is a purely commercial project and is politicized so far and so much
as it is a commercial one. So it is natural that commercial
structures involved in the project - and it is transnational
corporations that are involved in it - are interested in the
political lobbying for their interests, and the project is
politicized due to the interference of commercial interest as well.
It should be taken as a quite natural precondition for the
implementation of the program. So, the geopolitical situation in the
region must promote the development of commercial interest, and in
this aspect both the Karabakh and the Abkhazian conflicts, as well as
the situation in Chechnya can, and to various extents, do play their
role in the final commercial realization of the idea of oil and gas
mains. It is natural that the politicians in the countries involved
in the conflict will have to carry out serious work for the currently
existing commercial interest to be used for political settlement of
these disputes. A unique situation is arising: the politicians and
leaders of the countries involved in the conflict can and must
use the commercial interest for settling the conflict. It would be
much more difficult to settle issues at he political level but for
this commercial interest.
Q: Do You think that the meeting of the Armenian and Turkish foreign
ministers testify to positive dynamics in the Armenian-Turkish
relations? What, do You think, accounts for that?
A: The obvious change in Turkey's attitude toward Armenia is accounted
for by the realization of the fact that Armenia, as I have said,
demonstrates itself as a regional factor. We are accustomed to the
fact that, in implementing an independent policy in the region,
Turkey did not consider nor did it want to consider Armenia as acting
in this capacity. But Armenia's quite balanced foreign and domestic
policy resulted in Turkey's having to consider Armenia as a factor
and correct its policy. All contacts with Armenia, both at the state
and at the public levels are intensive now as never before. Although
they are not properly efficient, the very fact of the dialogue is
most positive. I think that this dialogue will result in the
Turkish and Armenian public realizing the necessity for finding and
defending common interests, in contrast to the policy that was based
not on common interests, but on confrontation, on different views and
approaches. If we base ourselves on differences, which are numerous,
we may never start a dialogue or sit down to the negotiating-table.
Q: Do You think that Armenia's foreign policy, which is based on the
principle of complementarity and aimed at establishing regional
security, is efficient today?
A: The Armenian authorities' foreign and regional policy, which, in my
view, is most balanced and is based on national interests, improved
Armenia's international position, despite some erroneous elements and
inadmissible concentration on the main directions. As a result, no
regional event is not held without a serious participation of
Armenians state or public structures. Moreover, no reasonable
politician in Europe, in the USA and in international organizations,
such as the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund, cannot
imagine regional development without considering the Armenian factor.
It is a great achievement, as there was not such attitude 5-7 years
ago. On the contrary, Georgia was considered likely to become a
center of the South-Caucasian region in all directions and in all
disciplines of cooperation and be able to represent the regional
interests. The world leaders have come to realize the necessity for
considering the interests of all, including Armenia. Moreover, the
further the greater is Armenia's role, which can only be welcomed.
Q: For the implementation of regional projects and the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, European structures propose a
territorial swap. What do Your think of this scheme?
A: The way of settling conflicts may be connected with commercial
implementation of certain projects, but only within the lobbying
ambitions of certain transnational corporations and structures. If
the issues of settlement are shifted to the practical plane of
political decisions, settlement of conflicts by means of territorial
swaps and creation of corridor does not appear possible. Conflicts
affect the people's nervous system and the realization of the fact
that all is being done in the commercial interests of certain
structures complicates the settlement process. I am sure that such
proposal as a territorial swap cannot be reasonably put into
practice. The problem is possible to solve only by implementing the
people's will.
Q: It is for over two years that the construction of the
Iran-Armenia gas main has been spoken about, but things do not move.
Do not You think that the project is now more political than
commercial?
A: Until serious commercial structures show interest in the
Iran-Armenia gas main project, it will remain on paper. Of course,
for Armenia a second gas branch is of high importance. On the other
hand, it must be important for the structures that are ready to
invest capital in the construction of the gas main. I do not think it
will be reasonable if the government structure, either in Iran or in
Armenia, think about financing the project. Financial must be
commercial, which implies that the project must be
commercially elaborated and clearly oriented to commercial interest.
Political will of the Armenian and Iranian leaders is a necessary,
but not sufficient factor, for the construction of the gas main.
24 June, 2002
Emmanuil Mkrtichian, ARMINFO
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