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RUSSIA THREATENED ARMENIA WITH DOMESTIC PROBLEMS - DAVID SHAHNAZARYAN
15:55 05.09.13
"Sovereignty in exchange for security" is the designation David
Shahnazaryan, an ex-member of the Armenian National Congress (ANC),
offered as he commented on Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's decision
to join the Customs Union.
According to him, the decision was made only recently, under Russia's
"tremendous pressure." Shahnazaryan is sure that Russia informed
Armenia of Azerbaijan's new threats to unleash war.
"I would like to remind you that Russia recently supplied offensive
weapons to Azerbaijan and stressed its strategic relations with
Azerbaijan. They promised and threatened to worsen the domestic
situation in Armenia," he said.
With respect to the reasons for pressure on Armenia now, Shahnazaryan
said that the European Partnership Summit is nearing, and Armenia is
expected to initial an association agreement with the European Union.
"Secondly, the entire West has riveted its attention on Syria.
Thirdly, Russia had to make a serious step toward EU programs. What
are the consequences of Armenia's signing an agreement with the
Customs Union? In this case, Moscow will decide Armenia's foreign
policy almost one hundred percent. Years ago the then President Robert
Kocharyan and the then FM Vartan Oskanian had Nagorno-Karabakh pull
out of the talks. And now after Armenia joins the Customs Union, it
will coordinate all its steps with Russia," Shahnazarov said. This
will have its impact on Armenian-Turkish relations and pose a threat
to Armenian-Georgian relations.
Armenia's Constitution rules out full membership in the Customs Union.
"The rules of the Customs Union envisage the formation of a
supranational body. The member-states for a common customs area, and
the body decides the customs policy and regulates trade with third
countries. Joining the Customs Union will result in Armenia losing its
sovereignty, which is ruled out by our Constitution. No constitutional
amendment can legalize Armenia's membership," Shahnazaryan said.
According to him, the only way to resolve the problem is civil
society's struggle to prevent Armenia from signing an agreement with
the Customs Union. "It runs counter to the interests of our people,
state and Nagorno-Karabakh. It is not all over. We still have much
time and everything may change," Shahnazaryan said.
Armenian News - Tert.am
15:55 05.09.13
"Sovereignty in exchange for security" is the designation David
Shahnazaryan, an ex-member of the Armenian National Congress (ANC),
offered as he commented on Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's decision
to join the Customs Union.
According to him, the decision was made only recently, under Russia's
"tremendous pressure." Shahnazaryan is sure that Russia informed
Armenia of Azerbaijan's new threats to unleash war.
"I would like to remind you that Russia recently supplied offensive
weapons to Azerbaijan and stressed its strategic relations with
Azerbaijan. They promised and threatened to worsen the domestic
situation in Armenia," he said.
With respect to the reasons for pressure on Armenia now, Shahnazaryan
said that the European Partnership Summit is nearing, and Armenia is
expected to initial an association agreement with the European Union.
"Secondly, the entire West has riveted its attention on Syria.
Thirdly, Russia had to make a serious step toward EU programs. What
are the consequences of Armenia's signing an agreement with the
Customs Union? In this case, Moscow will decide Armenia's foreign
policy almost one hundred percent. Years ago the then President Robert
Kocharyan and the then FM Vartan Oskanian had Nagorno-Karabakh pull
out of the talks. And now after Armenia joins the Customs Union, it
will coordinate all its steps with Russia," Shahnazarov said. This
will have its impact on Armenian-Turkish relations and pose a threat
to Armenian-Georgian relations.
Armenia's Constitution rules out full membership in the Customs Union.
"The rules of the Customs Union envisage the formation of a
supranational body. The member-states for a common customs area, and
the body decides the customs policy and regulates trade with third
countries. Joining the Customs Union will result in Armenia losing its
sovereignty, which is ruled out by our Constitution. No constitutional
amendment can legalize Armenia's membership," Shahnazaryan said.
According to him, the only way to resolve the problem is civil
society's struggle to prevent Armenia from signing an agreement with
the Customs Union. "It runs counter to the interests of our people,
state and Nagorno-Karabakh. It is not all over. We still have much
time and everything may change," Shahnazaryan said.
Armenian News - Tert.am