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`Armenia is a small tool that was once used against the EU and the Ukraine.'
October 26 2013
Hovhannes Igityan about the role and place in Armenia in CU `Perhaps,
this question should be addressed to those Republican party MPs, who
once were saying how we can sign the agreement on establishment of a
Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, if we do not know what it is.
Now, it can be assumed that they do not know what they are saying, or
do not know at all what is going on even in the Customs Union,' said
the former President on RA NA Foreign Affairs Hovhannes Igityan in the
interview with `Aravot' in response to our question, yesterday,
regarding the draft decision signed in Minsk, according to which
Armenia will join the Customs Union and the Common Economic Area. To
the point, on this issue, Republican faction leader Galust Sahakyan
stated at the parliamentary briefing that he is not well informed as
to especially what provisions are there in this document, the
President will return and give them the information, at the same time
adding, `There is a road map that must be considered to ensure our
interests during the process of joining as well. With respect to the
Customs Union, we need to work properly to create favorable conditions
for us.' Also, this, another expression of ignorance by Galust
Sahakyan, according to Hovhannes Igityan, shows that before going to
somewhere Serzh Sargsyan's politically close team does not know what
he was going to sign there. `I guess it will always be so with the
Customs Union. Any representative, be it Serzh Sargsyan or lower, will
be going and a paper will be `put forward', which they must sign. And
they will sign. I can not think of any government official that will
not sign the paper `put forward' by Moscow,' said Hovhannes Igityan,
adding that from now on after Serzh Sargsyan's each step, the team
will begin to justify it. In fact, later, `Liberty' radio station
announced that the document signed in Minsk pledged Armenia to refrain
from any statement or action contrary to the interests of the Customs
Union. Given Armenia's desire to join the Customs Union and the legal
contractual base of the Common Economic Area and later to become a
full member of the Eurasian Economic Union, the parties reached a
number of mutual agreements. This document entitles Armenia to obtain
the documents adopted by the supreme body of the Eurasian Economic
Union, except for documents that contain confidential information.
Hovhannes Igityan also draws attention to the statements of Presidents
of the CU member states that follow each other in recent days,
according to which Armenia will have to go through the whole process,
and should not be easy to enter the Union. But interestingly that no
one knows what it means, because it's not that the rest of the
countries have gone through some process. Igityan implies that the
matter refers to all documents adopted by the Eurasian Commission,
which Armenia must adopt unconditionally, with no exceptions. No less
significant are recent statements of the CU expansion, which,
according to Igityan, clearly shows that the expansion is political,
no one is talking about economic issues, and even it was loudly voiced
that they would show the world that the Eurasian Union is not the
former USSR, hence, they are talking about membership of Turkey and
India. `I do not know whether Turkey or India has applied. Is it good
or bad for Armenia? In general, it is very difficult to look at the
economically virtual organization from the prospective of economy,
where everyone is distinctly saying that it is political. It is not
clear what problem the body solves, and what Armenia's role is over
there, in general, and why it is going. My point of view is that Putin
put pressure or a request (Putin's request is already a pressure) on
Armenia not to go to Europe and to weaken the position of Ukraine in
terms of the European integration. I think this is the main target,
and it is apparent,' opines Hovhannes Igityan. To the point, our
interlocutor has recently been in Ukraine and still believes that
there are quite interesting processes are going on there. `I think
that RF went beyond all bounds that, with regard to the
Euro-integration process, even the ones who consider themselves
pro-Russian forces are now united around President Yanukovych. I've
felt the process of joining in Ukraine, and if it continues, Ukraine
should be grateful to Putin that through pressures it contributed to
elimination of differences between the eastern and western parts and
to the process. The most important thing in all this is that merging
is going on not around the person but the values. The anti-government
forces state everywhere, post flyers that they support the President
Yanukovich in the process of European integration.' Hovhannes Igityan
highlights the active processes directed to public awareness in
Ukraine, both in economic and political, and social aspects on the way
to joining the EU and CU, and they are generally held through open
debates. `RF's pressure is felt, many producers appeared in bad shape
due to famous `roadway gate' opening - closing Gennady Onishchenko,
who one day suddenly decides that the Ukrainian milk, chocolate or
charcoal are harmful, and so on. It is apparently seen, and the people
realize it very well that Soviet bureaucratic, official manner of work
will be functioning in the CU, which will bring no benefit to anyone,'
concludes Hovhannes Igityan. In this context, our interlocutor does
not feel the presence of the political or economic team, which will
constantly discuss and give advice to Serzh Sargsyan on what Armenia
should do even in the CU. The political team that was formed in the EU
negotiations, today, according to our interlocutor, is in hesitation
because of the responsibility placed on them to change the position
and introduce economic grounds regarding a body, which is absolutely
not economical. `In other words, the team has to be changed. This team
functioning by economic criteria has nothing to do in the CU
discussions. But, the chance that we had before September three, is no
more available. Armenia has lost the trust, but it is not that it
gained new confidence by the CU member countries. The tone and
formulations that the officials of countries who consider themselves
founders of the CU allow towards Armenia, is already clear that
Armenia will never have an equal partner there. Armenia is a small
tool that was once used against the EU and Ukraine. It is clear that
Armenia will be an element over there constantly disturbing under the
feet, especially when they talk that the interests of Azerbaijan
should be considered in Armenia's joining process. They are talking
about Turkey. In this situation, Armenia has no future there.'
Recently, the European Parliament, in a resolution adopted regarding
Armenia, has addressed to the Karabakh issue, where there was a
reference to the four resolutions adopted by UN Security Council in
1993. Regardless of what they are talking that there have been
breaches of the voting process, that pro-Azerbaijani Italian MPs
forged the votes, and there should be reviewing, however, there is the
fact. To note that during these years Azerbaijan has always tried to
involve these decisions in the European resolutions, but it failed. In
response to our question whether it is a coincidence, Mr. Igityan said
that there are no random questions in the international diplomacy.
`This is not a casino, a roulette, it is a serious process in which
Armenia is leading the process of losing its trust and reputation for
a long time. The peak, of course, was the final step of Armenia, where
it showed that Armenia is not only a reliable partner, but also has
nothing to do with European values. Under these circumstances, the
`debate' between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the international arena
proceeds not in favor of Armenia. So far, the entire counterbalance of
statements on oil, lobbying, the Muslim League had been Armenia's
being a bit more democratic to Azerbaijan, direction to European
standards. If we become equal with Azerbaijan in democracy, then, of
course, all the rest advantages of Azerbaijan are becoming more
practical. And, it is not accidental that today Azerbaijan managed to
bring the UN resolutions into the European resolutions. To the point,
these resolutions are not so bad, but unfortunately, Azerbaijan
managed to present them as a non-pro-Armenian. In fact, with these
resolution, Armenia was to use its influence on Nagorno-Karabakh to
cease the war, which happened in 1994, and we can say that from that
moment these resolutions lost their actuality. Now, these resolutions
are presented in a different way, and Armenia's diplomacy, today, is
probably very busy with CU issues and is unable to avert it.'
Nelly Grigoryan
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/10/26/162194/
October 26 2013
Hovhannes Igityan about the role and place in Armenia in CU `Perhaps,
this question should be addressed to those Republican party MPs, who
once were saying how we can sign the agreement on establishment of a
Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, if we do not know what it is.
Now, it can be assumed that they do not know what they are saying, or
do not know at all what is going on even in the Customs Union,' said
the former President on RA NA Foreign Affairs Hovhannes Igityan in the
interview with `Aravot' in response to our question, yesterday,
regarding the draft decision signed in Minsk, according to which
Armenia will join the Customs Union and the Common Economic Area. To
the point, on this issue, Republican faction leader Galust Sahakyan
stated at the parliamentary briefing that he is not well informed as
to especially what provisions are there in this document, the
President will return and give them the information, at the same time
adding, `There is a road map that must be considered to ensure our
interests during the process of joining as well. With respect to the
Customs Union, we need to work properly to create favorable conditions
for us.' Also, this, another expression of ignorance by Galust
Sahakyan, according to Hovhannes Igityan, shows that before going to
somewhere Serzh Sargsyan's politically close team does not know what
he was going to sign there. `I guess it will always be so with the
Customs Union. Any representative, be it Serzh Sargsyan or lower, will
be going and a paper will be `put forward', which they must sign. And
they will sign. I can not think of any government official that will
not sign the paper `put forward' by Moscow,' said Hovhannes Igityan,
adding that from now on after Serzh Sargsyan's each step, the team
will begin to justify it. In fact, later, `Liberty' radio station
announced that the document signed in Minsk pledged Armenia to refrain
from any statement or action contrary to the interests of the Customs
Union. Given Armenia's desire to join the Customs Union and the legal
contractual base of the Common Economic Area and later to become a
full member of the Eurasian Economic Union, the parties reached a
number of mutual agreements. This document entitles Armenia to obtain
the documents adopted by the supreme body of the Eurasian Economic
Union, except for documents that contain confidential information.
Hovhannes Igityan also draws attention to the statements of Presidents
of the CU member states that follow each other in recent days,
according to which Armenia will have to go through the whole process,
and should not be easy to enter the Union. But interestingly that no
one knows what it means, because it's not that the rest of the
countries have gone through some process. Igityan implies that the
matter refers to all documents adopted by the Eurasian Commission,
which Armenia must adopt unconditionally, with no exceptions. No less
significant are recent statements of the CU expansion, which,
according to Igityan, clearly shows that the expansion is political,
no one is talking about economic issues, and even it was loudly voiced
that they would show the world that the Eurasian Union is not the
former USSR, hence, they are talking about membership of Turkey and
India. `I do not know whether Turkey or India has applied. Is it good
or bad for Armenia? In general, it is very difficult to look at the
economically virtual organization from the prospective of economy,
where everyone is distinctly saying that it is political. It is not
clear what problem the body solves, and what Armenia's role is over
there, in general, and why it is going. My point of view is that Putin
put pressure or a request (Putin's request is already a pressure) on
Armenia not to go to Europe and to weaken the position of Ukraine in
terms of the European integration. I think this is the main target,
and it is apparent,' opines Hovhannes Igityan. To the point, our
interlocutor has recently been in Ukraine and still believes that
there are quite interesting processes are going on there. `I think
that RF went beyond all bounds that, with regard to the
Euro-integration process, even the ones who consider themselves
pro-Russian forces are now united around President Yanukovych. I've
felt the process of joining in Ukraine, and if it continues, Ukraine
should be grateful to Putin that through pressures it contributed to
elimination of differences between the eastern and western parts and
to the process. The most important thing in all this is that merging
is going on not around the person but the values. The anti-government
forces state everywhere, post flyers that they support the President
Yanukovich in the process of European integration.' Hovhannes Igityan
highlights the active processes directed to public awareness in
Ukraine, both in economic and political, and social aspects on the way
to joining the EU and CU, and they are generally held through open
debates. `RF's pressure is felt, many producers appeared in bad shape
due to famous `roadway gate' opening - closing Gennady Onishchenko,
who one day suddenly decides that the Ukrainian milk, chocolate or
charcoal are harmful, and so on. It is apparently seen, and the people
realize it very well that Soviet bureaucratic, official manner of work
will be functioning in the CU, which will bring no benefit to anyone,'
concludes Hovhannes Igityan. In this context, our interlocutor does
not feel the presence of the political or economic team, which will
constantly discuss and give advice to Serzh Sargsyan on what Armenia
should do even in the CU. The political team that was formed in the EU
negotiations, today, according to our interlocutor, is in hesitation
because of the responsibility placed on them to change the position
and introduce economic grounds regarding a body, which is absolutely
not economical. `In other words, the team has to be changed. This team
functioning by economic criteria has nothing to do in the CU
discussions. But, the chance that we had before September three, is no
more available. Armenia has lost the trust, but it is not that it
gained new confidence by the CU member countries. The tone and
formulations that the officials of countries who consider themselves
founders of the CU allow towards Armenia, is already clear that
Armenia will never have an equal partner there. Armenia is a small
tool that was once used against the EU and Ukraine. It is clear that
Armenia will be an element over there constantly disturbing under the
feet, especially when they talk that the interests of Azerbaijan
should be considered in Armenia's joining process. They are talking
about Turkey. In this situation, Armenia has no future there.'
Recently, the European Parliament, in a resolution adopted regarding
Armenia, has addressed to the Karabakh issue, where there was a
reference to the four resolutions adopted by UN Security Council in
1993. Regardless of what they are talking that there have been
breaches of the voting process, that pro-Azerbaijani Italian MPs
forged the votes, and there should be reviewing, however, there is the
fact. To note that during these years Azerbaijan has always tried to
involve these decisions in the European resolutions, but it failed. In
response to our question whether it is a coincidence, Mr. Igityan said
that there are no random questions in the international diplomacy.
`This is not a casino, a roulette, it is a serious process in which
Armenia is leading the process of losing its trust and reputation for
a long time. The peak, of course, was the final step of Armenia, where
it showed that Armenia is not only a reliable partner, but also has
nothing to do with European values. Under these circumstances, the
`debate' between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the international arena
proceeds not in favor of Armenia. So far, the entire counterbalance of
statements on oil, lobbying, the Muslim League had been Armenia's
being a bit more democratic to Azerbaijan, direction to European
standards. If we become equal with Azerbaijan in democracy, then, of
course, all the rest advantages of Azerbaijan are becoming more
practical. And, it is not accidental that today Azerbaijan managed to
bring the UN resolutions into the European resolutions. To the point,
these resolutions are not so bad, but unfortunately, Azerbaijan
managed to present them as a non-pro-Armenian. In fact, with these
resolution, Armenia was to use its influence on Nagorno-Karabakh to
cease the war, which happened in 1994, and we can say that from that
moment these resolutions lost their actuality. Now, these resolutions
are presented in a different way, and Armenia's diplomacy, today, is
probably very busy with CU issues and is unable to avert it.'
Nelly Grigoryan
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/10/26/162194/