by Haroutiun Khachatrian (the 08/21/13 issue of the CACI Analyst)

A peculiar situation has occurred in Armenia as the opposition and many non-politicians speak about external threats that the country may face in the near future. The issue under discussion is the EU’s Eastern Partnership program. Armenia is a participant in that program and talks with EU representatives on an Association Agreement were successfully concluded on July 24. This means that Armenia can initial its Association Agreement at the Eastern Partnership Vilnius summit in November. Along with Armenia, Georgia and Moldova can also initial their agreements, while Ukraine expects to sign its agreement at Vilnius. Belarus and Azerbaijan were not involved in talks at this stage.

by Stephen Blank (the 08/21/13 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The centerpiece of current Russian foreign policy is integrating as many post-Soviet states as possible in what will ultimately be a Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). The first step of this process is to join a Customs Union and Russia is bringing enormous pressure to bear upon Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and now Armenia to join. It is being made clear to these states that if they join the EEU or what Moscow calls EURASEC, they will not be able to join other trade organizations, e.g. those inherent in the EU’s Eastern Partnership. While most publicity has focused on Ukraine, recent Russian policy towards Armenia is no less revealing of Moscow’s tactics and goals. 

by Mina Muradova (the 08/07/2013 issue of the CACI Analyst)

A diplomatic scandal has evolved around a comment made by Moldova’s Ombudsman at an international conference in Yerevan, accusing Armenia of committing an act of “genocide” against Azeris during the Nagorno-Karabakh war. The fact that the charges were put forward in Armenia’s National Assembly was considered disrespectful to the host country and caused calls for the Ombudsman’s resignation.

by Haroutiun Khachatrian (07/10/2013 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The Armenian Control Chamber (CC) recently released a highly controversial report on the government’s execution of the 2012 state budget. Under Armenian legislation, the CC is a special non-partisan body which controls the efficiency by which state funds are used. The CC’s president is proposed by Armenia’s president and appointed by the Parliament for six years. The report was presented at a session of Armenia’s parliament, the National Assembly, on June 17 and 18 although it had been ready for some time.

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