Tweet
EU SHOWING RESEMBLANCE TO USSR - ARMENIAN EXPERT
10:17 05.09.13
In an interview with Tert.am, Chairman of the Political Scientists
Union of Armenia Hmayak Hovhannisyan addressed Armenia's decision to
join the Customs Union.
Cooperation with Russia is of paramount importance for Armenia. He
believes that the European Union (EU) will offer Armenia an option
to continue relations as the EU itself is interested in cooperation.
"I should first of all note that a number of officials must resign.
Among them is Deputy FM Sharvarsh Kocharyan and Head of the Republican
Party of Armenia parliamentary group Galust Sahakyan. The latter said
yesterday that Armenia would without fail initial the association
agreement with the EU. I can say that the EU is beginning to show
resemblance to the Soviet Union. What does a state composed of 28
states mean? We [the USSR] were a union of 15 states [republics] and
felt uncomfortable. There were first- second- and third-class states.
The leaders of the first-class states were members of the Politburo
[Political Bureau]. The leaders of the second-class states were
'candidate members'. Armenia was among the third-class states. We
can see a similar situation within the EU, with its 'six-class'
system of member-states." Hovhannisyan said.
As regards the opinion that the statement was the result of blackmail
and the processes is based on EU officials' personal opinions,
Hovannisyan said: "Blackmail was when European Commissioner for
Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Štefan Fule arrived
here and, half joking, stated at a press conference he would sue
Armenia if it stopped on its way to the association agreement. It is
not so important who would be the means for him - Levon Ter-Petrosyan,
Shavarsh Kocharyan, Galust Sahakyan or Raffi Hovannisian. His statement
itself is what matters. He is a high-ranking official. Name at least
one Russian official of such caliber that would state that Russia
will sue Armenia if it does not join the Russia-led Customs Union."
Asked about the EU's possible response and further steps, the
expert said: "I think Armenia will be offered an option to continue
cooperation as it is the EU itself is interested in such relations.
And Armenia must not feign interest. It is not so. It is Europe that
is interested in Armenia and in our region. To say nothing of the
fact that Armenia is historically a bearer of European culture. And
Europe will do right if it accepts the 'both...and' logic, especially
as Russia originally formulated programs of integration with the EU
as the shortest way to reaching the goals. And it is the topic of
Russian President Vladimir Putin's article."
Armenian News - Tert.am
10:17 05.09.13
In an interview with Tert.am, Chairman of the Political Scientists
Union of Armenia Hmayak Hovhannisyan addressed Armenia's decision to
join the Customs Union.
Cooperation with Russia is of paramount importance for Armenia. He
believes that the European Union (EU) will offer Armenia an option
to continue relations as the EU itself is interested in cooperation.
"I should first of all note that a number of officials must resign.
Among them is Deputy FM Sharvarsh Kocharyan and Head of the Republican
Party of Armenia parliamentary group Galust Sahakyan. The latter said
yesterday that Armenia would without fail initial the association
agreement with the EU. I can say that the EU is beginning to show
resemblance to the Soviet Union. What does a state composed of 28
states mean? We [the USSR] were a union of 15 states [republics] and
felt uncomfortable. There were first- second- and third-class states.
The leaders of the first-class states were members of the Politburo
[Political Bureau]. The leaders of the second-class states were
'candidate members'. Armenia was among the third-class states. We
can see a similar situation within the EU, with its 'six-class'
system of member-states." Hovhannisyan said.
As regards the opinion that the statement was the result of blackmail
and the processes is based on EU officials' personal opinions,
Hovannisyan said: "Blackmail was when European Commissioner for
Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Štefan Fule arrived
here and, half joking, stated at a press conference he would sue
Armenia if it stopped on its way to the association agreement. It is
not so important who would be the means for him - Levon Ter-Petrosyan,
Shavarsh Kocharyan, Galust Sahakyan or Raffi Hovannisian. His statement
itself is what matters. He is a high-ranking official. Name at least
one Russian official of such caliber that would state that Russia
will sue Armenia if it does not join the Russia-led Customs Union."
Asked about the EU's possible response and further steps, the
expert said: "I think Armenia will be offered an option to continue
cooperation as it is the EU itself is interested in such relations.
And Armenia must not feign interest. It is not so. It is Europe that
is interested in Armenia and in our region. To say nothing of the
fact that Armenia is historically a bearer of European culture. And
Europe will do right if it accepts the 'both...and' logic, especially
as Russia originally formulated programs of integration with the EU
as the shortest way to reaching the goals. And it is the topic of
Russian President Vladimir Putin's article."
Armenian News - Tert.am