Russia

[TimeForChange]

Now, I have to admit, I'm just a young Armenian who has never been to Armenia, so I might be wrong. To tell you the truth, I feel like there's too much of Russia in the picture. Russia swallows electricity plant, Russia controls the media, Russia this, Russia that. And, to top it all, when you listen to news from Armenia on TV, the news anchors (those reading the news) actually sometimes speak to each other in Russian, when it's supposed to be Armenian news...

 

So, my question is: Am I being paranoid here? It's not the first time that I mention this (MJ might remember replying to a similar "complaint" I made once).

[Teutonic Knight]

Hmmm let's see...

In the diaspora it's Arab this Turk that and sometimes Diasporans even speak Arabic and Turkish to eachother

Are you Armenians or Arabs and Turks?

 

At least Russian is a European language not a bunch of guttural sounds to clean your throat. Russians are friends who have done more for Armenia than any other nation or people on this planet. Every Armenian in Armenia speaks Armenian, reads and writes in Armenian. If you want to have decent job or career ever in your life in Armenia you better speak Russian and be good at it.

 

Now I ask again, why do diasporans still speak Arabic and Turkish?

The disease is not cured. Not to mention the plethora of arabic/turkish in so called Western Armenian.

How many Greeks still speak Turkish in the West? How many Spaniards, Portuguese or Sicilians still speak Arabic?

 

All these nations cleaned their heritage and removed all the Arabic and Turkish influences while Armenians still cling to the language and culture of their oppressors like it was a cup of water in Der Zor.

Edited September 29, 2003 by Teutonic Knight

[MJ]

Yes, TFC. There is too much Russia in the picture. It denigrates Armenia.

[gamavor]

Teuton,

 

Diaspora Armenians (those from the Middle East and Bolsahays) use Arabic and Turkish (not all of them of course) for the same reasons for which Armenians in former Soviet Union speak Russian. The problem is not the languages you speak - the more the better. Each language contains hidden logic in its semantics and it enhances your abilities to reason. In my view the problem is the total immersion (note not assimilation, because those that are assimilated they identify themselves by their host culture and cease to be Armenians - whatever that means) of certain segments of the Armenian Diaspora into foreign cultures, thus copying and presenting it as Armenian.

I'm a fan of the Russian culture (esp. literature) and I believe Russia continues to be superpower, but I also would be disturbed to see foreign language speaking on the National television unless it is a specialized program.

 

 

I have never met an Armenian who speaks only one language. Sad, isn’t it?!?

[Accelerated]

Russians are friends who have done more for Armenia than any other nation or people on this planet.

 

Yes, done good AND bad. An equal dose of both IMO.

[TimeForChange]

Teuton,

 

Teuton,

 

It`s funny that you think that Armenians who have lived in the Middle East for a while are assimilated to Arabs, because I felt the same way about Armenians who live in Armenia vis-à-vis Russia…

 

We can therefore conclude that both you and I are somewhat wrong, since I know for one that I am not assimilated to Arabs. I left Lebanon when I was 4 yrs old, but my parents NEVER spoke Arabic in the house. Armenian and French were the norm. Hell, we all speak at least 4 languages, but when someone asks me what I am, I don`t say ‘’I am Canadian’’, ‘’I am French’’, or ‘’I am Lebanese’’, NO, I chose to continue to say ‘’I am Armenian’’.

 

I`m not saying ‘’put more arab or turk in the picture’’ , I am not saying ‘’stop learning Russian’’, I am just saying ‘’enough Russian!’’. Russia’s main concern is that it is losing its influence over former soviet nations (Russian colonies!), so it is doing everything it can to preserve it. Russia is not Santa Clause. It’s a jungle out there, it is just trying to get more power. So don`t think that Russia is our great saviour, because we have historical proof against that argument. It would probably be a better strategy to try pleasing the European Union, instead of Russia.

[Khazar]

Armenia is a post-soviet country, what should we expect? Armenia should definitely maintain the cultural and linguistic ties to the rest of the Former Soviet Union at least for the economic benefits - albeit, without losing 'Armenianness', of course.

 

We can't disregard 70 years of Soviet rule, just like we can't disregard centuries of Ottoman rule. It's there! Take what you can from it! Don't try to lose it! How could you possibly refuse more knowledge? Given that, it would then be our duty to KNOW exactly what in our culture/language is Armenian and what exactly is Russian, and Turkish, etc. It's the mixing of and confusion of of the cultures that kills their original form.

 

Anyways, back to RUSSIA! Just look at the region in terms of influence: Armenia has Russia. Georgia has the US. Azerbaijan has...oil companies!!!

 

Would we rather have America and oil companies influencing Armenia? I personally would say, hell no! The thought of American troops on Armenian soil is just too much for me...

[Armen]

"From Russia with love" nomination ....

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/artic...17.html?sub=new

 

Putin: Russia to Deploy Missiles 'Unlikely to Exist' Elsewhere

 

By Peter Finn

Washington Post Foreign Service

Thursday, November 18, 2004; Page A25

 

 

MOSCOW, Nov. 17 -- President Vladimir Putin told a conference of top military officials Wednesday that Russia was planning to deploy a nuclear missile of a kind that other nuclear powers were unlikely to develop.

 

Putin gave no other details, but over the last several months Russian military officials have spoken about developing a ballistic missile that could penetrate any missile defense system, such as the one being put in place by the United States. It reportedly would have the maneuverability of a cruise missile after reentering the atmosphere from space, helping it to evade interceptor rockets.

 

"We have not only conducted tests of the latest nuclear rocket systems," Putin said at a meeting in Moscow of the armed forces leadership, according to Russian news services. "I am sure that in the coming years we will deploy them. . . . Moreover, these will be things which do not exist and are unlikely to exist in other nuclear powers."

 

Russian officials have talked of shield-evading missiles since the 1980s, when the Reagan administration promoted its Strategic Defense Initiative anti-missile system.

 

In announcing a planned missile defense system in 2001, the Bush administration said it was designed to protect the country from "rogue states" such as North Korea, not Russia's massive arsenal.

 

But the announcement prompted a new round of statements from Russian officials that their country would develop missiles capable of penetrating such a shield.

 

The Itar-Tass news service said Putin may have been referring to a pending mobile version of the Topol-M, the only intercontinental missile developed by Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union. Earlier this month, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Russia expected to test the missile soon and that production might begin in 2005.

 

Some analysts questioned whether the projected 2005 defense budget was sufficient to finance an upgrading of Russia's nuclear forces. The army and security agencies, including the police, are projected to receive about $32 billion, or 30.5 percent of the federal budget.

 

"Putin's statement looks rather political," Ruslan Pukhov, an analyst at Moscow-based Center AST, which specializes in security studies, told the Bloomberg news service. "Most likely, Putin meant some research and design, conducted during Soviet times and dusted off recently."

 

© 2004 The Washington Post Company

[dianjan]

Armenia is a post-soviet country, what should we expect? Armenia should definitely maintain the cultural and linguistic ties to the rest of the Former Soviet Union at least for the economic benefits - albeit, without losing 'Armenianness', of course.

 

We can't disregard 70 years of Soviet rule, just like we can't disregard centuries of Ottoman rule. It's there! Take what you can from it! Don't try to lose it! How could you possibly refuse more knowledge? Given that, it would then be our duty to KNOW exactly what in our culture/language is Armenian and what exactly is Russian, and Turkish, etc. It's the mixing of and confusion of of the cultures that kills their original form.

 

Anyways, back to RUSSIA! Just look at the region in terms of influence: Armenia has Russia. Georgia has the US. Azerbaijan has...oil companies!!!

 

Would we rather have America and oil companies influencing Armenia? I personally would say, hell no! The thought of American troops on Armenian soil is just too much for me...

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

It will be a long while until Russia will not play any role in Armenia, because of the Russian rule on Armenia. And that'll be impossible to escape for a while. I am one of those people who are called "obrusevshiye". Any one who is from former USSR should know what that means. For those of you who do not know, the term applies to any one from Armenia, Georgia or Azerbaijan, who became Russianized (I'm not sure if such a word exists). Both of my parents, my grandparents and I went to Russian school. However, we lived in Tbilisi so we didn't have much choice. Armenian schools were very poorly funded. It's sad, but I know Russian much better then I ever knew Armenian or even Georgian. Russian is spoken in my house as much as Armenian is.

[Armen]

E.U. — RUSSIA RELATIONS: Interests and Value — A European Perspective

http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publicati...a=view&id=16269

 

By Rolf Schuette

Carnegie Paper No. 54

 

Summary

 

Western media, many Russia scholars, politicians who are not in power, and much of the public see President Vladimir Putin moving Russia further away from democracy, human rights, and the rule of law as they are understood in the West. The critics may disagree about whether today’s Russia can be described as a "managed democracy," an "authoritarian state," or a "new totalitarian state." But they all agree that the political system President Putin has designed and erected during the past few years no longer has much in common with western democracy. This paper looks at E.U.–Russia relations from a European and not a Russian perspective. Its main focus is to look at the question of how the issue of "common values" has figured in this relationship, especially when compared with the importance of other major issues.

 

About the Author

 

Rolf Schuette was a visiting scholar in the Russian and Eurasian Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace during the autumn of 2004. He is a career diplomat in the German Foreign Service and has served at embassies in Moscow, Tel Aviv, and Rome, and at the United Nations. Until July 2004, he was the head of the Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova division in the Foreign Office in Berlin.

 

Full Text in PDF here:

 

http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/cp5...uette.final.pdf

[Armen]

EURASIA INSIGHT

RUSSIAN LEADERS MULL GEOPOLITICAL MOVES IN 2005

 

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insi...eav010405.shtml

[skhara]

Russia can be clumsy, sloppy, and sometimes destructive. I think the bear is a very appropriate national mascot -- i'll take her any day over the scheming, backstabing, 'politically-correct' corporate assholes in Europe and Washington.

 

 

It would probably be a better strategy to try pleasing the European Union, instead of Russia.

 

Macedonia is a good examples of what you get with 'pleasing' the European Union.

[Armen]

With all this homosexual, porno etc. crap that fluded the forum today this post seems to be the last drop in my today's cup Skara jan The same pleasing, taking the bear over others, abuse etc. ...

 

And some say it is offensive to personally insult a human being... And why is that? Aren't we all crap? I say *** all human beings!

[Anileve]

With all this homosexual, porno etc. crap that fluded the forum today this post seems to be the last drop in my today's cup Skara jan   The same pleasing, taking the bear over others, abuse etc. ...

 

And some say it is offensive to personally insult a human being... And why is that? Aren't we all crap? I say *** all human beings!

style_images/master/snapback.png

Ahem........ .... I think you need a hug.

[Anonymouse]

E.U. — RUSSIA RELATIONS: Interests and Value — A European Perspective

http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publicati...a=view&id=16269

 

By Rolf Schuette 

Carnegie Paper No. 54

 

Summary

 

Western media, many Russia scholars, politicians who are not in power, and much of the public see President Vladimir Putin moving Russia further away from democracy, human rights, and the rule of law as they are understood in the West. The critics may disagree about whether today’s Russia can be described as a "managed democracy," an "authoritarian state," or a "new totalitarian state." But they all agree that the political system President Putin has designed and erected during the past few years no longer has much in common with western democracy. This paper looks at E.U.–Russia relations from a European and not a Russian perspective. Its main focus is to look at the question of how the issue of "common values" has figured in this relationship, especially when compared with the importance of other major issues.

 

About the Author

 

Rolf Schuette was a visiting scholar in the Russian and Eurasian Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace during the autumn of 2004. He is a career diplomat in the German Foreign Service and has served at embassies in Moscow, Tel Aviv, and Rome, and at the United Nations. Until July 2004, he was the head of the Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova division in the Foreign Office in Berlin.

 

Full Text in PDF here:

 

http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/cp5...uette.final.pdf

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

I learned alot by reading this post, such as fractions. No wait that was the third grade. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v96/Anonymouse/frown.gif

[Armen]

I learned alot by reading this post, such as fractions. No wait that was the third grade. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v96/Anonymouse/frown.gif

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

Repetition is The Mother of learning.

[skhara]

With all this homosexual, porno etc. crap that fluded the forum today this post seems to be the last drop in my today's cup Skara jan   The same pleasing, taking the bear over others, abuse etc. ...

 

And some say it is offensive to personally insult a human being... And why is that? Aren't we all crap? I say *** all human beings!

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

I guess I didn't read all the topics so I don't know anything about homesexual porn on the forum. However, on the topic of Russia vs. EU/NATO, there is no reason to please or not please, just do what is best for the national interest.

[Armen]

I guess I didn't read all the topics so I don't know anything about homesexual porn on the forum.  However, on the topic of Russia vs. EU/NATO, there is no reason to please or not please, just do what is best for the national interest.

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

Sorry for the unconventional lyrical digression Skara.

 

I guess I have to ask you the favourite question in our class:

 

"What is national interest?"

Edited January 7, 2005 by Armen

[skhara]

Sorry for the unconventional lyrical digression Skara.

 

I guess I have to ask you the favourite question in our class:

 

"What is national interest?" 

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

And I'm sure everyone would have their own ideas.

 

I would say its

1. security

2. territorial integrity

3. prosperity

 

Because of the geo-strategic situation, Russia,is a good ally to keep the turks at bay. I don't have a high opinion of Putin, but somehow if Armenia had to choose, I think from past experience, it is a no-brainer to go with Russia.

Edited January 8, 2005 by skhara

[Armen]

If this poll is anything close to reality ... it is amazing! Only 9%, while the reciprocal Armenian feeling is some 50-60% if I remember well from the ACNIS polls.

 

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Washington Times, DC

June 9 2005

 

Analysis: Russia's friends and foes

 

 

By Peter Lavelle

UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL

 

 

Moscow, Russia, Jun. 9 (UPI) -- A recent public opinion poll suggests

Russians clearly believe the country has friends and foes in the

world. However, results also suggest Russians are almost evenly split

-- for some a foe is a friend and a friend a foe. Is Russia still

looking for its place in the world?

 

 

The Levada Center, Russia's independent and most-respected public

opinion agency, polled 1,600 Russians older than 18 years of age at

the end May to determine how the general population sees the outside

world. Determining which countries in the world are Russia's friends

and foes produced surprises and even contradictions.

 

News reports of the Levada Center's findings did not make clear

whether citizens polled were prompted with names of countries or

asked to number countries on their own. The poll also did not provide

a margin of error.

 

Belarus came out on top as Russia's greatest friend in the world with

46 percent. Following Belarus, Germany came in second with 23 percent

and Russia's other friends include Kazakhstan 20 percent, Ukraine 17

percent, India16 percent, France 13 percent, China 12 percent, the

United States 11 percent, Bulgaria 11 percent and Armenia 9 percent.

 

On the other side of the ledger, Latvia topped the list as Russia's

strongest foe according to 49 percent of respondents. Following it,

Lithuania with 42 percent, Georgia at 38 percent, Estonia 32 percent,

the United States 23 percent, France 13 percent, Afghanistan 12

percent, Iraq 10 percent, Japan 6 percent and Iran 6 percent.

 

Cursory review of the poll's findings shows many interesting issues

currently in play. Russia's greatest recent enemy -- Germany -- is

widely seen to be a friend. Russia's other important adversary during

the World War II, Japan, is not widely seen to be an enemy by a vast

majority of those polled.

 

Many of the countries that are considered enemies now are Russia's

neighbors. The recent heated public demand and diplomatic row that

Russia should apologize to the Baltic republics for a half century of

Soviet occupation should be ascribed to the current antipathy many

Russian have toward those countries. The widely held belief that

Russian nationals living in the Baltic republics are denied some

basic human rights have also influenced public perceptions of these

countries.

 

The former Soviet republic of Georgia is also viewed in a dim light

among many Russians. The close relationship President Mikhail

Saakashvili has pursued with the United States and the tug-of-war

over the closure of Russian military bases in the country has soured

Russia-Georgian relations in the public mind.

 

The perception of Ukraine and the United States is the most striking

and contradictory of the poll results -- both countries are deemed as

friend and foe by many of the respondents.

 

Ukraine's "Orange Revolution" and many of the anti-Russian overtones

that could be heard in media claiming Kremlin "meddling" in Ukraine's

internal affairs continues to be irksome to many Russians. At the

same time, people-to-people and economic relations continue to tie

the two countries together.

 

The perception of the United States appears to be almost

schizophrenic. The fact that more respondents see it as a foe than as

a friend could be accounted for as a lingering Cold War phenomenon.

However, what may be more important than the past is many of the

countries considered foes have good relations with Washington. After

all, President Bush sandwiched his recent visit Moscow with stops in

Latvia and Georgia.

 

Another important result of the public opinion poll is the conclusion

that the majority of Russians asked have no majority consensus of one

international friend or foe and a significant minority who believe it

has more foes than friends.

 

The poll result also demonstrates how Russia has maintained close

ties with former Soviet friends, India for example. But Russia has

also reached out to former Soviet foes, namely the United States.

Some former constituent parts of the Soviet Union -- once considered

"family" -- rate high as countries most disliked.

 

The most compelling reason for the lack of consensus among many

Russians can be explained as a reflection of Russia still trying to

find its place in the world after the Soviet collapse 14 years ago.

 

Most importantly, Russia appears to find it hardest to come to terms

with many of the countries it has had the closest relations with for

centuries. This should serve as a wake up call for the Kremlin that

Russia's neighbors are also coping to find their place in the world.

 

--

 

Peter Lavelle is United Press International's Moscow corresponden

[Verginne]

Russians have been friends, brothers and protectors for Armenians, as well as primary advocates. Don't take that lightly. The feeling should be mutual and I hope it always will be.

[theguywhosavedtheuniverse]

Too much Russia? Modern day Armenia would barely be able to stand on its own feet without Russia. Vladimir Putin and the Russian people are the best allies Armenians have.

[AK-47]

Looks like Belarus and Russia are on their way to becoming one. Putin proposed merging the countries and it seems majority in both countries is in favor.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20071210/wl_csm/omerger

[Eurocentric]

Looks like Belarus and Russia are on their way to becoming one. Putin proposed merging the countries and it seems majority in both countries is in favor.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20071210/wl_csm/omerger

 

That would be perfect. One nation, one border. The 'West' is of course vehemently opposed to this logical move, after all they are still looking for pieces to take away from Serbia.

[Ashot]

Russia denies missiles to Iran

 

Story Highlights

Iran's defense minister announced Russia would supply S-300 missile system

 

Russia's Federal Military-Technical Cooperation Service denied the claim

 

The system is capable of shooting down aircraft at a range of 90 miles

 

Russia boasts the S-300 outstrips the U.S. Patriot missile system

 

 

MOSCOW, Russia -- The federal agency overseeing Russia's military exports on Friday denied reports that the country is planning to deliver a powerful new anti-aircraft missile system to Iran.

 

Iran's defense minister had said earlier this week that Russia was preparing to equip Iran with the S-300 missile system, which would dramatically increase the country's ability to repel an attack.

 

But Russia's Federal Military-Technical Cooperation Service denied the claim in a brief statement.

 

"The question of deliveries of S-300 systems to Iran, which has now arisen in the mass media, is not currently taking place, is not being considered and is not being discussed at this time with the Iranian side," said the agency, known by its Russian initials, FSVTS.

 

The system is capable of shooting down aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missile warheads at ranges of over 90 miles and at altitudes of about 90,000 feet. Russian military officials boast that its capabilities outstrip the U.S. Patriot missile system.

 

The S-300 is an improvement over the Tor-M1 air defense missile system. Russia delivered 29 Tor-M1s to Iran this year under a $700 million contract signed in December 2005. Iranian media reports have claimed the improved missile systems could inflict significant damage on U.S. or Israeli forces, were they to attack Iran.

 

The United States had said in the past that it would not rule out military action as a way to halt Iran's nuclear enrichment, claiming it was using the nuclear program as cover for weapons development.

 

But earlier this month, Washington reversed course, concluding in an intelligence assessment that Iran stopped direct work on creating nuclear arms in 2003 and that the program remained frozen through at least the middle of this year.

 

Russia has provided Iran with submarines and military planes in recent decades.