CANDIDATES AND FOREIGN POLICY
Lragir
Jan 25 2008
Armenia
What is the vision of the presidential candidates of the foreign
policies of Armenia, considering that the president sets the foreign
policy of Armenia even after the amendments to the Constitution? To
understand the vision of the candidates, the National Press Club
and the U.S. International Democratic Institute held a discussion
on January 25, during which the presidential candidates of Armenia
voiced their stance on the foreign policy.
First Member of Parliament Gurgen Margaryan, Orinats Yerkir
Party, spelled out the stance of the presidential candidate Arthur
Baghdasaryan on the foreign policy. Hence, for him the main goal of
the foreign policy of Armenia must be the entry of Armenia to the EU.
However, Arthur Baghdasaryan considers mutually favorable cooperation
with Russia and the neighbors of Armenia as well. Gurgen Sargsyan says
Arthur Baghdasaryan thinks Armenia should conduct an active foreign
policy rather than one which reports facts. Arthur Baghdasaryan’s
representative says their candidate thinks Armenia should work out
a concept of international policies of Armenia, and democracy is
essential to an effective foreign policy.
In answer to the thesis on the necessity of an international political
concept Armen Ashotyan, the representative of the Republican candidate
Serge Sargsyan, says Armenia already has a document, the National
Security Strategy, which involves the priorities and aspects of our
foreign policies. Armenia may be interesting for the world if it
pursues international recognition of the Genocide, which is already
being implemented rather effectively.
For regional integration, Armen Ashotyan says it is important to find
out its price. Apart from this, the representative of the Republican
Party points our that regarding international policies Armenia should
not be active only with regard to the Armenian problems but should
become involved in international human and political problems, such
as global warming.
In addition, the Republican candidate mentions three strands how
Armenia should arouse interest in the world in the nearest future:
the nuclear plant, the Iran-Armenia transit gas pipeline and the
Iran-Armenia railway.
Member of Parliament Artashes Shahbazyan from the ARF Dashnaktsutyun
who presented Vahan Hovanisyan’s vision stated that their candidate
thinks Armenia must conduct a multifold foreign policy.
Shavarsh Kocharyan presented the presidential candidate Vazgen
Manukyan’s opinion, who said Armenia must have three strands
in foreign policies: European Integration based on real reforms,
including modernization of the army. Therefore, he says, membership
to NATO is not obligatory. Shavarsh Kocharyan also mentioned the
prospect of the increasing role of the United States in the region,
and underlined the importance of relations with the United States
and Russia. In this connection, Shavarsh Kocharyan thinks the second
strand is to turn Armenia into a country which bears and fulfills the
dialogue of civilizations, saying that the quality of the Iran-Armenia
relations is evidence to our ability. The third strand, according to
the representative of the presidential candidate Vazgen Manukyan is
the effective ties with the Diaspora.