“Zhamanak” comments on a new European Union report that found “limited progress” in Armenia’s democratization in the course of 2014. “Europe certainly does not expect Armenia to carry out all reforms before a new agreement [with the EU,]” writes the paper. “But they are openly hinting that Armenia will get some new document only in case of concrete political steps. This is probably Europe’s lesson learned from September 3 [2013] and a guarantee that there will be no repeat [of the Armenian foreign policy U-turn.]”
In its coverage of President Serzh Sarkisian’s state visit to China, “Haykakan Zhamanak” singles out one of a dozen Chinese-Armenian agreements signed in Beijing on Wednesday. It envisages the release of a “concessional” Chinese loan to Armenia. “How much will the loan be worth? What interest rate will it carry? When is it supposed to be repaid? How is it going to be spent? None of that is known,” writes the paper. It claims that the Armenian government is desperate to obtain as many loans as possible to alleviate the country’s economic problems.
“Zhoghovurd” reports that Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a Russian nationalist politician loyal to the Kremlin, has called for Nagorno-Karabakh to be placed under Russian control. A senior Karabakh official on Wednesday played down Zhirinovsky’s statement, saying that it does not reflect official Moscow’s position on the Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute. The paper is not sure about that, pointing to the flamboyant Russian politician’s government ties. “Whenever professional clowns come up with ‘personal’ initiatives they smack of a very alarming test [ordered by their government backers,]” it says.
(Tigran Avetisian)