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EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER MEETS WITH FOUR ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY FORCES, CONCERNED OVER RUSSIAN-AZERBAIJAN ARMS DEAL
17:46 â~@¢ 11.07.13
European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy
Stefan Fule held a meeting on Wednesday with four parliamentary
forces - Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D),
Armenian National Congress (ANC) Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP)
and Heritage party.
During the meeting Mr Fule expressed his concern over a $1 worth
Russian-Azerbaijani arms deal. The meeting participants did not arrive
at a conclusion, however, Vahan Hovhannisyan, who represented the
ARF-D at the meeting, told Tert.am.
Vardan Oskanyan and Naira Zohrabyan represented the PAP, Levon Zurabyan
and Vladimir Karapetyan represented the ANC and Armen Martirosyan
and Hovsep Khurshudyan represented the Heritage party.
Mr Fule has held a number of meetings with the aforementioned political
forces in the same format, and a separate meeting with the coalition
forces.
The meeting participants were assured that by signing an association
agreement with the European Union (EU) Armenia will have to choose
between 'either...or' and 'both... and', Hovhannisyan said. "But I
do not believe all the assurances," he added.
"I spoke of Armenia's security and of our country's priority issues
on the agenda that must never be jeopardized. With respect to the
economic sector, Mr Fule assured us that, if we have any problems
with sale of goods in the traditional markets, Europe will open its
markets under the agreement. That is, assurances have been given,
but I would advise you to read the agreement itself to understand
what may actually happen," Hovhannisyan said.
On the other hand, the EU was not in a hurry to give security
guarantees to Armenia.
The meeting also discussed the domestic political situation,
particularly the authorities-opposition relations. The European
Commissioner voiced the opinion that the agreement will prove to be
an excellent basis for civilizing the authorities-opposition relations.
Armenia should most seriously calculate all the possible consequences
before initialing the agreement.
The PAP member Naira Zohrabyan told Tert.am that a rather lengthy
discussion took place and a wide range of issues was discussed.
"First of all, we discussed the prospects of the agreement to be
initialed in Vilnius, and there was a problem of opposition forces'
involvement. We also discussed domestic political problems, and each
political force presented its approaches," she said.
Hovsep Khurshudyan, Spokesman for the Heritage party, said that
"it was an off the record meeting."
The sides discussed the importance of the association agreement for
Armenia in the context of Armenia's integration with Europe. Mr Fule
dwelt on the opportunities for reforms in Armenia.
An ANC-released statement says that the ANC expects the EU's assistance
in developing democracy, human rights protection and fundamental
freedoms in Armenia.
The meeting stressed the need for the EU's stance on amendments
to Armenia's electoral code and on the political prisoner Tigran
Arakelyan's release. The sides agreed on further contacts between
Armenia's opposition forces and EU structures.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/07/11/stefan-fule-meeting/
17:46 â~@¢ 11.07.13
European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy
Stefan Fule held a meeting on Wednesday with four parliamentary
forces - Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D),
Armenian National Congress (ANC) Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP)
and Heritage party.
During the meeting Mr Fule expressed his concern over a $1 worth
Russian-Azerbaijani arms deal. The meeting participants did not arrive
at a conclusion, however, Vahan Hovhannisyan, who represented the
ARF-D at the meeting, told Tert.am.
Vardan Oskanyan and Naira Zohrabyan represented the PAP, Levon Zurabyan
and Vladimir Karapetyan represented the ANC and Armen Martirosyan
and Hovsep Khurshudyan represented the Heritage party.
Mr Fule has held a number of meetings with the aforementioned political
forces in the same format, and a separate meeting with the coalition
forces.
The meeting participants were assured that by signing an association
agreement with the European Union (EU) Armenia will have to choose
between 'either...or' and 'both... and', Hovhannisyan said. "But I
do not believe all the assurances," he added.
"I spoke of Armenia's security and of our country's priority issues
on the agenda that must never be jeopardized. With respect to the
economic sector, Mr Fule assured us that, if we have any problems
with sale of goods in the traditional markets, Europe will open its
markets under the agreement. That is, assurances have been given,
but I would advise you to read the agreement itself to understand
what may actually happen," Hovhannisyan said.
On the other hand, the EU was not in a hurry to give security
guarantees to Armenia.
The meeting also discussed the domestic political situation,
particularly the authorities-opposition relations. The European
Commissioner voiced the opinion that the agreement will prove to be
an excellent basis for civilizing the authorities-opposition relations.
Armenia should most seriously calculate all the possible consequences
before initialing the agreement.
The PAP member Naira Zohrabyan told Tert.am that a rather lengthy
discussion took place and a wide range of issues was discussed.
"First of all, we discussed the prospects of the agreement to be
initialed in Vilnius, and there was a problem of opposition forces'
involvement. We also discussed domestic political problems, and each
political force presented its approaches," she said.
Hovsep Khurshudyan, Spokesman for the Heritage party, said that
"it was an off the record meeting."
The sides discussed the importance of the association agreement for
Armenia in the context of Armenia's integration with Europe. Mr Fule
dwelt on the opportunities for reforms in Armenia.
An ANC-released statement says that the ANC expects the EU's assistance
in developing democracy, human rights protection and fundamental
freedoms in Armenia.
The meeting stressed the need for the EU's stance on amendments
to Armenia's electoral code and on the political prisoner Tigran
Arakelyan's release. The sides agreed on further contacts between
Armenia's opposition forces and EU structures.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/07/11/stefan-fule-meeting/