tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25278601.post-1164028870131555722006-11-20T05:08:00.000-08:002006-11-20T05:21:10.220-08:00From <a href="http://www.a1plus.am/en/?page=issue&iid=43146">A1+ </a><br />an article ... in response to the protest?<br /><br />Who are we kidding here? Yes Armenians are allies with Russia and yes they are strategically important. But why do Armenians place SUCH emphasis on this relationship... to the extent in which they are almost turning attention away from a skinhead, fascist movement developing in Russia. <br /><blockquote><br />Social / News<br />«THEY DON'T KILL ARMENIANS FOR BEING ARMENIAN»<br /><br />[04:47 pm] 20 November, 2006<br />«Suppose we renounce Russia... What shall we do? Whom shall we cooperate with? », Ara Abrahamyan, the head of the Union of Armenians in Russia, asked a rhetorical question. He is sure hat Russia is the «strategic partner» of Armenia, «Armenia is a small and independent country; it must have a program and an ideology», Ara Abrahamyan said adding that the relations of Armenia with other countries must not develop at the expense of the relations with Russia, but vice versa. </blockquote><br /><blockquote>As for the murders of Armenians in Russia, Mr. Abrahamyan claims that it is not against Armenians. According to him, they kill 25 times more Azeris than Armenians; the problem is that the Union of Armenians in Russia is an organized structure, that's why we are better aware of facts about killing Armenians. According to him, the Union turns to corresponding structures in Russia in order to reveal the murders, but only within the limits of law, «What else can we do? ». </blockquote><br />We know they are not just Armenians that are being murdered! Anybody who has studied Soviet history will go and see that Jews were also victims. Why doesn't Abrahamyan mention the fact that they are practically deporting the Georgians out of the country? Maybe because it is important to measure Armenian national standards against Azeri? Considered to be the "black people" of Russia, people from the South Caucasus have had been persecuted and discriminated quite a bit within recent history.<br /><br /><blockquote>The murder of Arthur Haroutyunyan, the head of the Murmansk branch of the Union of Armenians, is the center of attention of Ara Abrahamyan, but he finds it too early to express an opinion. Nevertheless, he thinks that it was a murder not on national grounds but rather on economic ones. Arthur Haroutyunyan engaged in banking and realty trade. <br /><br />Ara Abrahamyan claims that he has not yet decided whom to stand by during the Parliamentary elections. He said they Union will answer the question in January of the next year. He added that the RA authorities must see the future and not discuss the mistakes of the past. Nevertheless, he assured that they do not criticize the RA authorities abroad, “they say everything here”.</blockquote><br /><br />Anyway, this whole attitude of looking towards Russia as a great friend and ally is nothing new. I am not against having Russia as a strategic ally, but maybe it's time to consider who Armenia should be considering as a role model. Shall this small country seeking to consolidate its democracy and civil society, seek towards looking at Russia as a role model within this realm as they are a "similar group of people"? Well, if the country heads towards that direction, it will be a bumpy road ahead...akhtamarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073513339429707746noreply@blogger.com