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EU ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT IS BENEFICIAL FOR ARMENIA, BUT DESTRUCTIVE FOR OLIGARCHS - ANALYST
June 13, 2013 | 12:42
YEREVAN. - Signing of the Association Agreement between Armenia
and the European Union (EU) will allow Armenia to make use of new
strategic opportunities.
Regional Studies Center Director, political analyst Richard Giragosian
stated the aforesaid during a roundtable discussion on Thursday. He
also pointed to four specific opportunities.
"First, this is an opportunity for the European Union itself. This
association would give the EU a lever to push the democratic
developments in Armenia further. The second opportunity is for Armenia
which, under the conditions of future isolation, would have a chance
for greater integration. The third opportunity is directly for the
region, since the EU offers regional stability. And the fourth
[opportunity] is very interesting for Russia itself, since the
existence of an advanced Armenia is in the best interests of Russia,
too," Giragosian specified.
He added, however, that all this is a serious threat to the oligarchic
economy. In the analyst's conviction, Armenia has no alternative but
making reforms.
"The economic status quo [in Armenia] is convenient to some
businessmen, but destructive for the country. The oligarchs do not
realize that their strength and ability are slowly fading, or they
will realize [this] in the end, when it will be too late. This is an
opportunity that Armenia cannot afford to miss," Richard Giragosian
stressed.
News from Armenia - NEWS.am
June 13, 2013 | 12:42
YEREVAN. - Signing of the Association Agreement between Armenia
and the European Union (EU) will allow Armenia to make use of new
strategic opportunities.
Regional Studies Center Director, political analyst Richard Giragosian
stated the aforesaid during a roundtable discussion on Thursday. He
also pointed to four specific opportunities.
"First, this is an opportunity for the European Union itself. This
association would give the EU a lever to push the democratic
developments in Armenia further. The second opportunity is for Armenia
which, under the conditions of future isolation, would have a chance
for greater integration. The third opportunity is directly for the
region, since the EU offers regional stability. And the fourth
[opportunity] is very interesting for Russia itself, since the
existence of an advanced Armenia is in the best interests of Russia,
too," Giragosian specified.
He added, however, that all this is a serious threat to the oligarchic
economy. In the analyst's conviction, Armenia has no alternative but
making reforms.
"The economic status quo [in Armenia] is convenient to some
businessmen, but destructive for the country. The oligarchs do not
realize that their strength and ability are slowly fading, or they
will realize [this] in the end, when it will be too late. This is an
opportunity that Armenia cannot afford to miss," Richard Giragosian
stressed.
News from Armenia - NEWS.am