HOUR OF TRIUMPH IN ARMENIA'S RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA, US, EUROPE TO COME - RAFFI HOVANNISIAN
TERT.AM
21:25 ~U 12.03.13
Heritage party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian is against Armenia's joining
the Customs Union or the Eurasian Union.
Talking to journalists, Mr Hovannisian spoke of Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan's visit to Moscow. According to unofficial information,
issues of the Customs Union and Eurasian Union are on the visit agenda.
"My words do not mean that Armenia does not need strong ties with
countries of Asia and the East. But Armenia should see its future in
a different direction provided Europe recognizes Armenia's national
interests, sovereignty and citizens' rights," Mr Hovannisian said.
He is sure that the hour of triumph in Armenia's relations with Russia,
US and Europe is in the future.
As regards the possibility of Armenia's membership in the European
Union (EU), especially now that the organization has some problems,
Mr Hovannisian said that the thing to do before is to admit the fact
Armenia's economy is in the hands of a few families and oligarchs.
"Our economy has been killed by domestic, not foreign, forces. So
we must return the funds to the state budget and ordinary citizens,"
he said. Mr Hovannisian stressed the need to ensure free competition,
put an end to monopolies and promote small and medium businesses.
"I have said I do not object to Armenia having observer status at the
Eurasian Union or relations with Asian countries and Russia. I have
said that, if Europe recognizes our national interests and sovereignty,
I do not rule out our membership. But Europe needs progress, and
Armenia has to develop its own democracy," Mr Hovannisian said.
TERT.AM
21:25 ~U 12.03.13
Heritage party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian is against Armenia's joining
the Customs Union or the Eurasian Union.
Talking to journalists, Mr Hovannisian spoke of Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan's visit to Moscow. According to unofficial information,
issues of the Customs Union and Eurasian Union are on the visit agenda.
"My words do not mean that Armenia does not need strong ties with
countries of Asia and the East. But Armenia should see its future in
a different direction provided Europe recognizes Armenia's national
interests, sovereignty and citizens' rights," Mr Hovannisian said.
He is sure that the hour of triumph in Armenia's relations with Russia,
US and Europe is in the future.
As regards the possibility of Armenia's membership in the European
Union (EU), especially now that the organization has some problems,
Mr Hovannisian said that the thing to do before is to admit the fact
Armenia's economy is in the hands of a few families and oligarchs.
"Our economy has been killed by domestic, not foreign, forces. So
we must return the funds to the state budget and ordinary citizens,"
he said. Mr Hovannisian stressed the need to ensure free competition,
put an end to monopolies and promote small and medium businesses.
"I have said I do not object to Armenia having observer status at the
Eurasian Union or relations with Asian countries and Russia. I have
said that, if Europe recognizes our national interests and sovereignty,
I do not rule out our membership. But Europe needs progress, and
Armenia has to develop its own democracy," Mr Hovannisian said.