Expert: The first large loan from Armenia to the IMF for the  so-called economic "modernization" can put an end to the RA, as an  independent state

ArmInfo. The main feature of the modern world is <tectonic> shifts in the minds of the mass man, and paradoxically - in developed countries people are increasingly  thinking about traditional values  and the importance of the  spiritual in comparison with the material, and, on the contrary, many  third world countries are falling into primitive westernization,  abandoning their traditions and history.

About this at the international conference "Spiritual values and  the modern state"  director general of the EurAsEC institute Vladimir Lepekhin  said.

According to him, similar processes are observed in the post-Soviet  space, where in each new independent state trends in strengthening  the national identity and state sovereignty - on the one hand, and  <European integration> - on the other, are becoming increasingly  tough. "Judging by recent events, this trend is becoming increasingly  tangible in Armenia," the expert said, stressing that in fact in  Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, in fact, there is a war of elites on  the same basis.

In turn, according to him, in such post-Soviet countries as  Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan (as well as in the  unrecognized republics of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transnistria and  Nagorno- Karabakh), nationally-oriented values and priorities now  dominate.

"I think that no one in Armenia doubts that it is precisely dynamic  economic development, coupled with ensuring the national security of  the country, are the most important tasks of the Armenian state  today.  From my point of view, the most important condition for the  implementation of these tasks is to ensure absolute state sovereignty  of the Republic of Armenia, which, in turn, implies: modernization of  the Armenian economy on its own basis, preservation and strengthening  of the national cultural identity and traditional spiritual and moral  foundations of the Armenian state>, Lepekhin stressed .

"I think that no one in Armenia doubts that it is precisely dynamic  economic development, coupled with ensuring the national security of  the country, are the most important tasks of the Armenian state  today.  From my point of view, the most important condition for the  implementation of these tasks is to ensure absolute state sovereignty  of the Republic of Armenia, which, in turn, implies: modernization of  the Armenian economy on its own basis, preservation and strengthening  of the national cultural identity and traditional spiritual and moral  foundations of the Armenian state>,  Lepekhin stressed. 

According to him, the foundation of the value matrix of Armenianism  is precisely Christianity, given that Armenia is the first country to  adopt Christianity as a state religion. "It was the AAC that  preserved the Armenian culture and unity of the Armenian nation for  thousands of years, including in a situation when the latter was  deprived of its statehood. And it is the AAC that is the center of  attraction for Armenians in foreign enclaves: Turkey, Lebanon, Syria,  Russia and many other countries, "Lepekhin said.

According to him, the religious identity of the Armenian people is  the main spiritual pillar of the world Armenianism and the most  important national brand of Armenia. That is why, he stressed, any  attempts to downplay the role and importance of the Armenian Orthodox  Church in Armenian society, as well as to intervene in the affairs of  the Armenian Apostolic Church should be viewed as an encroachment on  Armenia's civilizational and national interests.

Further, based on historical experience, he stressed that the  political, economic, cultural and other sovereignty of the RA should  be unconditional. <Only full and effective protection of civilization  (general- cultural) and national sovereignty will allow the Armenian  nation to survive and develop in the context of growing regional and  geopolitical problems. And this does not at all imply a so-called  "multi-vector" foreign policy. The course towards genuine state  sovereignty implies the choice and retention of a completely  understandable and definite vector, "Lepekhin said, expressing the  opinion that Armenia should focus on maintaining its religious  identity, state sovereignty and traditional family.