Will the Ministry of Foreign Affairs keep the promise?
November
16 2013 Political parties still do not know what document will be
signed in Vilnius At the Parliamentary sessions, during 2014 budget
discussions, answering questions raised by MPs what document Armenia
will sign with the EU, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Zohrab
Mnatsakanyan said that at least ten days before the summit in Vilnius
the content of the document to be signed in Vilnius will be definitely
clear. Yesterday, during parliamentary briefings, representatives of
political parties at answering the question whether they are aware of
this document, are familiar with its content, the responses were
negative, recalling the past examples when the official documents are
`inaccessible' to the political forces. Outstanding representative of
the dominant political force, Galust Sahakyan's only difference from
the opposition was that the latter did not complain and express
dissatisfaction about his being unaware. Moreover, filled the ears of
journalists with some bulk of word to hide his being unaware and and
creating an impression that everything is not so bad. In the
conversation with `Aravot', RPA faction secretary Hovhannes Sahakyan,
answering the question whether he knows what document should be signed
in Vilnius, said, `We all know that the document, which was prepared,
on which we have worked, can not be signed as such. Competent
authorities, those who are eligible, as well as on behalf of Mr.
Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, work on this document, and before the Vilnius
summit some information will be provided to the public. `Generally,
analyzing the logic of process, RPA MP once again ascertained that
Armenia from the outset was right of its decision, and everything was
done for the benefit of society and the state. He notes that in spite
of their opponents, now, it can be clearly stated that Armenia's
integration into the European family has not failed and is not in the
deadlock. `There is continuation, there is collaboration at least
about the item, about which we have talked: political consultations,
reforms, continuation of programmatic and institutional reforms of
governance system.' Hovhannes Sahakyan also rushed to disappoint the
RPA opponents by qualifying their alarms regarding Armenia's isolation
empty. We asked Hovhannes Sahakyan to share his thoughts on the
dilemma that Ukraine has actually facing today: the Customs Union or
the European Union, whether Ukraine will sign the EU Association
Agreement, what possible developments will follow, and what reactions
they will make to Armenia. `I would not like to mix the context of
Armenia and Ukraine. Each state makes its own calculations for the
benefit of its people,' said the MP, adding that, in his assessment,
Ukraine in legal and practical aspects was entirely on a different
dimension, and the one year work that this country had conducted for
signing the Agreement, is more serious and justified. As to why
Ukraine faced the dilemma, why the president and the prime minister of
this country make contradictory statements, and what will happen in
Vilnius, Hovhannes Sahakyan considers that it is the problem of given
country. He states that Armenia made more calculated and balanced
decision based on its entire interests: regional development,
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, RA and NKR security and economy.
`To connect one with the other or to make some statements today, I
think we showed a little haste. And, if Ukraine joins the Customs
Union, we, as a common economic area, see a larger, more expansive
area. In my opinion, more expansive is the Customs Union, much easier
and more efficient will be the cooperation in terms of economy.' RPA
MP does not consider regional processes and various kinds of
statements accidental, but he urges to display patience and wait for
the results of the summit in Vilnius. There is a view that what
happened to Armenia on September 3 was actually directed against
Ukraine, that by imposing such decision to Armenia, RF ruling class
was actually warning Ukraine. MP once again reiterated that nor
pressure was exerted on Armenia, and that this view has already lost
its power. `The decisions of Armenia and Ukraine are not connected.
Each state decides its own interests. Here, we are in a slightly
advantageous position, because we have always been honest with RF
strategic partner and the European partners, and in all the meetings
we have stated that we will work with the principle of and-and.'
Nelly Grigoryan
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/11/16/162567/
November
16 2013 Political parties still do not know what document will be
signed in Vilnius At the Parliamentary sessions, during 2014 budget
discussions, answering questions raised by MPs what document Armenia
will sign with the EU, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Zohrab
Mnatsakanyan said that at least ten days before the summit in Vilnius
the content of the document to be signed in Vilnius will be definitely
clear. Yesterday, during parliamentary briefings, representatives of
political parties at answering the question whether they are aware of
this document, are familiar with its content, the responses were
negative, recalling the past examples when the official documents are
`inaccessible' to the political forces. Outstanding representative of
the dominant political force, Galust Sahakyan's only difference from
the opposition was that the latter did not complain and express
dissatisfaction about his being unaware. Moreover, filled the ears of
journalists with some bulk of word to hide his being unaware and and
creating an impression that everything is not so bad. In the
conversation with `Aravot', RPA faction secretary Hovhannes Sahakyan,
answering the question whether he knows what document should be signed
in Vilnius, said, `We all know that the document, which was prepared,
on which we have worked, can not be signed as such. Competent
authorities, those who are eligible, as well as on behalf of Mr.
Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, work on this document, and before the Vilnius
summit some information will be provided to the public. `Generally,
analyzing the logic of process, RPA MP once again ascertained that
Armenia from the outset was right of its decision, and everything was
done for the benefit of society and the state. He notes that in spite
of their opponents, now, it can be clearly stated that Armenia's
integration into the European family has not failed and is not in the
deadlock. `There is continuation, there is collaboration at least
about the item, about which we have talked: political consultations,
reforms, continuation of programmatic and institutional reforms of
governance system.' Hovhannes Sahakyan also rushed to disappoint the
RPA opponents by qualifying their alarms regarding Armenia's isolation
empty. We asked Hovhannes Sahakyan to share his thoughts on the
dilemma that Ukraine has actually facing today: the Customs Union or
the European Union, whether Ukraine will sign the EU Association
Agreement, what possible developments will follow, and what reactions
they will make to Armenia. `I would not like to mix the context of
Armenia and Ukraine. Each state makes its own calculations for the
benefit of its people,' said the MP, adding that, in his assessment,
Ukraine in legal and practical aspects was entirely on a different
dimension, and the one year work that this country had conducted for
signing the Agreement, is more serious and justified. As to why
Ukraine faced the dilemma, why the president and the prime minister of
this country make contradictory statements, and what will happen in
Vilnius, Hovhannes Sahakyan considers that it is the problem of given
country. He states that Armenia made more calculated and balanced
decision based on its entire interests: regional development,
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, RA and NKR security and economy.
`To connect one with the other or to make some statements today, I
think we showed a little haste. And, if Ukraine joins the Customs
Union, we, as a common economic area, see a larger, more expansive
area. In my opinion, more expansive is the Customs Union, much easier
and more efficient will be the cooperation in terms of economy.' RPA
MP does not consider regional processes and various kinds of
statements accidental, but he urges to display patience and wait for
the results of the summit in Vilnius. There is a view that what
happened to Armenia on September 3 was actually directed against
Ukraine, that by imposing such decision to Armenia, RF ruling class
was actually warning Ukraine. MP once again reiterated that nor
pressure was exerted on Armenia, and that this view has already lost
its power. `The decisions of Armenia and Ukraine are not connected.
Each state decides its own interests. Here, we are in a slightly
advantageous position, because we have always been honest with RF
strategic partner and the European partners, and in all the meetings
we have stated that we will work with the principle of and-and.'
Nelly Grigoryan
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/11/16/162567/