You can't take me back to the Soviet, Putin's Russia is repulsive as much

Mr.Bleyan, You already know about Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin’s September 3 joint declaration in which Serzh Sargsyan informed of  Armenia’s decision about “ Joining Customs Union,  and in the future undertaking steps towards Eurasian integration.”  What is Your opinion about  it?  

-We have not initiated the Customs Union. All the more, that is not a choice between bad and worse as it is presented. We are not the Ukraine to have any influence on Eurasia. We mustn’t act in haste for any reason. The economic argumentations of the Customs Union should be presented in the comprehensible language of economics emphasizing the restrictions brought by the Union and the advantages if there are any. We should also proclaim the European Association Agreement; we should help common people to have their individual attitude. My political idealism and imagination have seen a Switzerland type neutral Armenia. Alas… I was inspired by the independent state system proclaimed on September 21, 1991, with an ordinary citizen of Armenia as the main public figure; with the main aim to provide man living in Armenia with a free-honorable-well off life.       

-A number of political figures believe that Russia exercised a warning of applying force. Do You also consider it to be a result of Russian pressure?  

The inspiration caused by independence that came next to September 1991, didn’t turn into state system constructing work. Very quickly we were drawn in Armenian-Azerbaijanian war, we had to  go through 1992-1994 Sodom and Gomorrah, and thank God, we stayed alive. With ceasefire on May 12, 1994  a new state of affairs, Status quo was recorded. Very quickly this Status quo began to dictate our behavior, rule over Armenia and Artsakh, and if man interferes with it he is killed-leaves the country-doesn’t live. The synonym to this is making steps towards Eurasian Integration. So this is a step dictated to protect the Status quo, and with this respect it was fully expected, just the usual kind of step. Having initiated the Eurasian Union Russia, as the successor of Czarist Russia-Bolshevik Russia- New Russia, had and now has the only tool: pressure... If you do not take off your boots, what are they for, if not for living in the mud, making others live in the mud, squashing.             

-Not unequivocal echoes were heard from Europe about  Serzh Sargsyan's declaration. For example, Euro commission declared that they would wait for Armenia's explanations, and the European People's Party has declared  that: “They blame the pressure applied by Russia and regret on the decision having been made by the president of Armenia in such circumstances.”  Do you think the Customs Union membership will hinder from European Integration, particularly pre-signing the European Association Agreement?     

Europe is also threatening. Ты меня коммунизмом не пугай. Я блокаду пережил. It would have been impossible to maintain Status quo were it not for Europe's participation. What other goal does Europe offer-see for Armenia besides Status quo's Armenia? We are simple people. Let Europe speak to us in a comprehensive way. The formal approach to European integration, Armenia-Europe, will be maintained by an agreement. What's the matter? One more agreement won' be a burden.       

-There is a point of view that the so called “both ... and” or complimentary policy can be applied today as well.  Are you of the same opinion?  

-Well, we are not 4 million, we are not 3 million either, and according to the latest census … but at least we are sure to be 2,5 million, aren’t we? Here are the resources of complimentary policy (That is also a synonym to Status quo). They are of course being consumed but still present.   

-The EurasianUnion’s project is quite often associated with the former USSR, as authoritarian regime rules over Russia, and the Russian state machine propagandizes the soviet values in all possible ways.

Do you consider it possible to Return to the new “Soviet Union”?

-It’s a fact thatRussian chauvinism, beginning with Czarist Russia followed by the Soviet, and up to the present day Eurasian Union, hasn’t been overcome yet. The new Russia didn’t have enough strength to overcome it. We, the post Soviet countries, didn’t have enough courage to cut off the ties. The Republic of Armenia even went further by handing over the Armenian-Turkish and Armenian – Iranian borders of the newly independent state to be deposited by the Russian Federation. And war with Azerbaijan was impossible without the Russian weapon and military bases, without antiaircraft defense which was in fact handed over to Russia. How many steps did it take us to reach Customs Union?  The presence of Russian chauvinism in Transcaucasia was to maintain and deepen the Armenian – Azerbaijanian, Russian-Georgian-Abkhazian conflicts. We underestimated the new conflict with Azerbaijanians, and the affect of being unable to overcome the historical conflict with Turkey. And Europe with their European Union was too cautious, to the extent of treachery, and in the result of that duel standards began acting in Transcaucasia.              

It seemed that if Europe had been more assertive and long-sighted, Georgia would have   become member of NATO, candidate of European Union membership in 2008, which would have precluded the demonstrative march of Russian boots from Gori to Tbilisi, the population of Gori wouldn't have been fired in 2008 like Grozni in Chechnia. In everybody’s sight, with everybody's connivance: they are our masters, they have the right to do it.

-Do you think that joining Customs Union can affect the civil activeness in Armenia?

- I lived in the Soviet, we consumed our talent and continue living in the post Soviet country with a fake life driven by inertia. Free-independent-creative Armenia means pacific Armenia living in reconciliation with its past, neighbors, being irreconcilable to the unpromising present.  You can’t take me back to the Soviet, Putin’s Russia is repulsive as much. That is why we should begin acting, my brothers. Let’s begin our cause again. There can’t be a better start. The start is given.

- In this context there is a question which has a direct connection with Your today’s occupation, the field of education. During the conference after the above mentioned meeting Vladimir Putin said that they might open a branch of Moscow State University and a Russian gymnasium in Yerevan. In Your opinion, what aim does that pursue?

- Higher education solves two problems in our country: hundreds of young people’s emigration is prepared by advertising high schools. Thousands of young people are cut off real civil life strengthening the support of Putin's Russia in our country, making the Status quo stable which is the actual client for both public and career specialized education. The law of language was an obstacle but now it isn’t … Alas…our attitude towards our language… There is not a thing more sneaky than this. We haven’t paid the debt to our language, the Armenian language which is real the real Armenia, spiritual Armenia.         

The interview was taken by Aram Sargsyan

Online news website “168 Hours” 

Translated into English by Yura Ganjalyan