By Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza
Attendants of the recent session of the integration club of Valentina Matviyenko, Speaker of the Federation Council of Russia, have decided to compose a common history book for the CIS to boost development of integration in the post-Soviet space. They also discussed the foundation of a network university of the CIS. Armenia, a state willing to join the Customs Union (CU), has expressed interest in the initiatives. How real is the project to compose a common history book and would it help consolidate post-Soviet states?
Historians have a complex interpretation of many problems of the former USSR. History in the USSR was studied in a common book approved at the highest level. Modern history is at the stage of serious politicization. A good example to prove the point is the events in Yerevan on March 1, 2008. They were included in higher education books with interpretations the government wants, although the events have not been fully investigated yet. So the textbook written with good intentions may achieve absolutely contrary results.
Armenia supposes that the primary issue is the formation of a functioning and beneficial economic for CU members. The history book or the university should be a supplement to the processes. The American, French and Russian-Armenian University operate in Armenia. An agreement to open the Yerevan branch of Moscow State University was reached.
The reasoning behind the idea to open the second Russian university is still uncertain. In order to enter all faculties of the RAU, an applicant needs to write a dictation in Russian. Dictation for applicants focused on mathematics and biochemistry may cause corruption risks. Firstly, there is great difference between the Armenian and Russian lingual mentality because in the Armenian language you write words the way they are pronounced, unlike in Russian. Secondly, not a single Armenian university, except the American and French University, write no dictations at the entrance exams. This is why dictations have become the main reason why talented Armenian young people prefer other universities to the RAU, despite even excellent knowledge of the language in some cases. So people are trying to open the second Russian university in Yerevan without studying the negative experience of the RAU.
In the context of Armenia’s joining the CU, some Russian functionaries and MPs have been discussing special status of the Russian language in Armenia. In the past 20 years, Russia has made no steps to popularize the Russian language in Armenia and improve the level of knowledge. Instead, it chose an easier model. At first, Moscow functionaries were pointing out the need to make Russian the state language, something that even Soviet Armenia had not done. Then they proposed making Russian a language of international communication in the country, where 87.5% of the population are Armenians.
Counterbalancing this policy, Americans have created many centers giving free English lessons since Armenia’s becam ane independent state. The UK is retraining teachers of the English language in London. No one has never talked about the need to give English some status. The astute approach of the West and Russian steps taking Armenian lingustic mentality into account and the role of their native language, English is easily competing with Russian in Armenia.
Composition of a common textbook, opening of an MSU branch in Armenia, studies of the Russian language to boost economic integration within the framework of the CIS need scrupulous studies and a sophisticated strategy.
