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Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 - 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 - 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website: www.acnis.am
April 17, 2008
ACNIS Looks Into Armenia's European Integration Prospects
Yerevan--The Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS) today convened a foreign policy roundtable to examine
Armenia's policy on European integration and the country's commitments
made and actions taken to that end. The meeting brought together MPs,
foreign embassy and mission personnel, leading analysts, policy
specialists, public and political figures, and media representatives.
ACNIS research coordinator Syuzanna Barseghian welcomed the audience
with opening remarks. "The current analytical observations carry the
objective of shedding light on the challenges that are dependent on
today's geopolitical realities," Barseghian said. "These observations
seek to provide answers to the key questions concerning the political
course Armenia has chosen on its road to integration into Europe and
the priority measures planned for that purpose."
The day's first speaker, chairman Karen Bekarian of the "European
Integration" NGO, reflected on the policy of European integration in
terms of its real and demonstrative manifestations. He drew attention
to the fact that there is no clear-cut and common view in Armenia
regarding this process and therefore European integration has no
societal demand in our country. "All the political players are simply
exploiting the notion of European integration, making it serve their
individual interests. They are disregarding the true interests of the
state and the people," Bekarian stated. In his viewpoint, Armenia's
current coalition government is a prime example that bespeaks the
absence of a shared outlook with respect to the country's European
integration prospects. Bekarian argued that two of the political
parties in power consider EU membership as an ultimate goal, whereas
according to the other two ruling coalition parties--who even though
place a huge emphasis on partnership with the European
institutions--accession to the European Union is not a final objective
for Armenia.
In his intervention, member of the Armenian National Assembly Armen
Ashotian examined the priority measures for Armenia's integration into
Europe. In his view, the need for European integration is primarily
dependent on the factors which secure a rapid progress in Armenia with
respect to democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, poverty
reduction, and reforms within state governance. According to Ashotian,
this need also heavily depends on the expectation of a peaceful
resolution to the Karabagh conflict, regional integration, financial
support, and adoptation of a civilized value system. "The prospects
for Armenia's European integration, and specifically our involvement
in the 'European Neighborhood Policy,' allows us a wonderful
opportunity to implement those qualitative and systemic reforms that
are fixed in the government's and the newly elected president's
agenda," Ashotian maintained.
In his turn, member of parliament Stepan Safarian explored Europe's
reaction to the electoral processes in Armenia and looked at the
priorities of the political course to be adopted by our country. In
his opinion, the imperative for European integration demands on the
flawless execution of the commitments that are assumed in line with
the international accords, treaties, and other formal documents. As
Safarian argued, despite the fact that in their evaluations the
European institutions mostly encourage and rarely criticize the
electoral processes in Armenia while in terms of relations between the
authorities and the opposition they uphold a balanced approach, during
the recent presidential elections, this picture was quite different.
"Today the main target of European criticisms are the authorities and
this, in my opinion, is because of the concern toward strengthening
the divided political opposition and as a result of a more approving
demeanor by the opposition," Safarian said, not ruling out this time
the possibility of European sanctions against Armenia.
The policy roundtable concluded with an exchange of opinions and
policy recommendations among political scientist Edward Antinian; Vahe
Gevorgian from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; independent analyst
Manvel Sargsian; Suren Movsisian of the Noravank Foundation; ACNIS
analyst Hovhannes Manukian; and several others.
Founded in 1994 by Armenia's first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi
K. Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors,
ACNIS serves as a link between innovative scholarship and the public
policy challenges facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the
post-Soviet world. It also aspires to be a catalyst for creative,
strategic thinking and a wider understanding of the new global
environment. In 2008, the Center focuses primarily on civic education,
democratic development, conflict resolution, and applied research on
critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the state and the
nation.
For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or
27-48-18; fax (37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected];
or visit www.acnis.am
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 - 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 - 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website: www.acnis.am
April 17, 2008
ACNIS Looks Into Armenia's European Integration Prospects
Yerevan--The Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS) today convened a foreign policy roundtable to examine
Armenia's policy on European integration and the country's commitments
made and actions taken to that end. The meeting brought together MPs,
foreign embassy and mission personnel, leading analysts, policy
specialists, public and political figures, and media representatives.
ACNIS research coordinator Syuzanna Barseghian welcomed the audience
with opening remarks. "The current analytical observations carry the
objective of shedding light on the challenges that are dependent on
today's geopolitical realities," Barseghian said. "These observations
seek to provide answers to the key questions concerning the political
course Armenia has chosen on its road to integration into Europe and
the priority measures planned for that purpose."
The day's first speaker, chairman Karen Bekarian of the "European
Integration" NGO, reflected on the policy of European integration in
terms of its real and demonstrative manifestations. He drew attention
to the fact that there is no clear-cut and common view in Armenia
regarding this process and therefore European integration has no
societal demand in our country. "All the political players are simply
exploiting the notion of European integration, making it serve their
individual interests. They are disregarding the true interests of the
state and the people," Bekarian stated. In his viewpoint, Armenia's
current coalition government is a prime example that bespeaks the
absence of a shared outlook with respect to the country's European
integration prospects. Bekarian argued that two of the political
parties in power consider EU membership as an ultimate goal, whereas
according to the other two ruling coalition parties--who even though
place a huge emphasis on partnership with the European
institutions--accession to the European Union is not a final objective
for Armenia.
In his intervention, member of the Armenian National Assembly Armen
Ashotian examined the priority measures for Armenia's integration into
Europe. In his view, the need for European integration is primarily
dependent on the factors which secure a rapid progress in Armenia with
respect to democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, poverty
reduction, and reforms within state governance. According to Ashotian,
this need also heavily depends on the expectation of a peaceful
resolution to the Karabagh conflict, regional integration, financial
support, and adoptation of a civilized value system. "The prospects
for Armenia's European integration, and specifically our involvement
in the 'European Neighborhood Policy,' allows us a wonderful
opportunity to implement those qualitative and systemic reforms that
are fixed in the government's and the newly elected president's
agenda," Ashotian maintained.
In his turn, member of parliament Stepan Safarian explored Europe's
reaction to the electoral processes in Armenia and looked at the
priorities of the political course to be adopted by our country. In
his opinion, the imperative for European integration demands on the
flawless execution of the commitments that are assumed in line with
the international accords, treaties, and other formal documents. As
Safarian argued, despite the fact that in their evaluations the
European institutions mostly encourage and rarely criticize the
electoral processes in Armenia while in terms of relations between the
authorities and the opposition they uphold a balanced approach, during
the recent presidential elections, this picture was quite different.
"Today the main target of European criticisms are the authorities and
this, in my opinion, is because of the concern toward strengthening
the divided political opposition and as a result of a more approving
demeanor by the opposition," Safarian said, not ruling out this time
the possibility of European sanctions against Armenia.
The policy roundtable concluded with an exchange of opinions and
policy recommendations among political scientist Edward Antinian; Vahe
Gevorgian from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; independent analyst
Manvel Sargsian; Suren Movsisian of the Noravank Foundation; ACNIS
analyst Hovhannes Manukian; and several others.
Founded in 1994 by Armenia's first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi
K. Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors,
ACNIS serves as a link between innovative scholarship and the public
policy challenges facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the
post-Soviet world. It also aspires to be a catalyst for creative,
strategic thinking and a wider understanding of the new global
environment. In 2008, the Center focuses primarily on civic education,
democratic development, conflict resolution, and applied research on
critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the state and the
nation.
For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or
27-48-18; fax (37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected];
or visit www.acnis.am