HERITAGE PARTY SEC CRITICAL OF OFFICIAL YEREVAN’S ‘OVERNIGHT DECISIONS’, UNPREDICTABLE STEPS
21:50 12.09.13
In an interview with Tert.am., Political Secretary of the Heritage
party Styopa Safaryan commented on Armenia’s decisions on accession
to the Shanghai Declaration with observer status, initialing of the
Association Agreement with the European Union (EU). He believes that
Armenia’s authorities have made “hasty decisions.”
Mr Safaryan, a decision on Armenia’s accession to the Shanghai
Declaration with observer status has unexpectedly been announced.
Armenia’s authorities are making such unexpected steps that the
idea of Armenia’s possible membership as a reliable partner should
be completely rejected by Europe. When I had meetings with numerous
EU officials in Brussels, they pointed out their inability to view
Armenia as a reliable partner any longer as a major problem. The
Armenian president’s unexpected decision is evidence thereof. And
even the Armenia authorities’ commitments to Europe have been called
into question. And this behavior – visiting the capitals of different
great powers and giving different promises – is not serious in itself.
Few Armenian political analysts have an idea of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) and all of them withhold comments. The
reason may be its being an unclear direction.
This is an economic cooperation organization co-sponsored by Russia,
China and, so to say, Eurasian states. Nothing prevents Armenia from
getting observer status at different organizations. Moreover, Armenia
maintains relations with Russia, Kazakhstan, China and other states.
But Armenia’s authorities go on making “overnight decisions” thereby
shocking both Armenia’s population and international experts. Simply
speaking, Armenia’s policy has become unpredictable, which does not
promise anything good. The authorities may have decided to expose
the country, endangering Armenia’s international reputation.
Still, do you think it is something forced or what is known as
initiative?
God alone knows where the last decision was discussed. But is has
nothing in common with Armenia’s population or political forces.
If anyone says that Armenia has lately seen debates on which of
the unions the country should join, the Association Agreement with
the European Union is the only exception. No other agreements have
ever been discussed in Armenia. It is unacceptable. I say again,
Armenia’s authorities are not making independent decisions. Rather,
they are unexpectedly told where to go and what to promise. And
“overnight decisions” are made under Russian pressure.
Mr Safaryan, you say Europe is expecting cooperation in discussing the
legal incompatibility. However, European Commissioner for Enlargement
and European Neighborhood Policy Å tefan Fule said that Armenia can
initial the Association Agreement with the EU if it has only observer
status at the Customs Union. It is clear that even a modified version
of the Association Agreement is out of the question.
However, willingness has been declared to discuss the initialing of
the Association Agreement and of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade
Areas Agreement (DCFTA) and resume negotiations if Armenia states its
intention to join the Customs Union as an observer. I mean Europe is
affording Armenia an opportunity. However, instead of following the
way to resolve its problems Armenia is making unpredictable steps.
Armenia’s president never mentioned such unpredictable steps during
his election campaign.
That is, you share Alexander Arzumanyan’s opinion. Yesterday he told
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan that that the government
program did not contain a single word about the Customs Union or the
Shanghai agreement. The government must either present a new program
or resign. On his part, the FM stated that new developments rather
than a revision of the program are on the agenda.
The country’s foreign policy has undergone serious changes. But it is
not only the emphases that the authorities never mentioned during the
election campaign. Nothing like this is incorporated in the government
program either. Yes, they must either amend their program or resign.
The authorities have no right to speak on behalf of the people if
they have not discussed such significant issues with the people or
have been given the right to make such momentous decisions.
Å tefan Fule will arrive in Armenia. But as far as we know he does
not plan meetings with political forces in the previous format. Has
the Heritage party received an invitation?
I am not informed of such an invitation. But I think we need a meeting
because each side has something to say. But if he decides against
meeting with political forces, I think such a step should be viewed
as a wish to avoid criticism. Besides, I think their work is focused
on Armenia’s authorities.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/09/12/shanghai-declaration/