ARMENIAN POLITICIAN: WITH A HELP OF “EASTERN PARTNERSHIP” EUROPEAN UNION IS TRYING TO HINDER CREATION OF A UNION AROUND RUSSIA
by Ashot Safaryan
ARMINFO
Wednesday, August 7, 17:25
With a help of “Eastern Partnership” the European Union is trying
to hinder creation of a union around Russia. Unfortunately, Armenia
also contributes in this affair, the leader of the “New Times” party,
Aram Karapetyan, told Arminfo correspondent.
He said that at present the relations between Armenia and Russia are
not so good. The main reason of that is a shotfall policy conducted
by the Armenian authorities. As a result, we have a prospect of
initialing an Association Agreement between Yerevan and Brussels.
“Nobody can explain what the Association Agreement means and what
geo-political consequences it supposes. Is Europe going to involve
countries of the “Eastern Partnership” and provide their national
security, or to create a conglomerate? Will they later join NATO?
Nobody has strictly answered these questions. I think that “Eastern
Partnership” programme, which the Association Agreement is stemming
from, was formed not to allow creation of a new union around Russia”,
– Karapetyan said.
He thinks that strategic partnership between states supposes
coordination of actions and solutions on the key issues. As for
Yerevan’s policy, in this case its authorities are riding high, as
their rapprochement with the EU may force Moscow revise relations
with Armenia.
Karapetyan does not think that an agreement with the EU may stimulate
domestic political reforms in Armenia and result in enhancing of
democratic institutions, recovery in economy and improvement of
business-climate.
“What has changed since “Europeization” of the political leadership
of the country, which started 10 year ago? 10 people were killed in
the centre of Yerevan in broad daylight in 2008. Parliamentary and
presidential elections of 2012 and 2013 were fully falsified. As far
as I know, all these factors did not hinder the European Union to
recognize legitimateness of Armenia’s authorities”, – the politician
concluded.