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MARKARIAN DISCUSSES CUSTOM'S UNION, HOVHANESSIAN AMBASSADORSHIP
http://asbarez.com/114037/markarian-discusses-custom%E2%80%99s-union-hovhanessian-ambassadorship/
Wednesday, September 18th, 2013
Hrant Markarian
BY VARAK KETSEMANIAN
>From The Armenian Weekly
In a recent interview on the "Yerkrin Hartse" television program in
Armenia, Hrant Markarian, the chairperson of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF) Bureau, presented the ARF's stance on various issues
concerning the Armenian Republic today.
Since Sept. 3, he said, when Armenia decided to join the Russian-led
Custom's Union, most of the discussions and debates in the country
have revolved around this issue. The public reaction against the
move has been strong, since it was seen as an unexpected and unusual
declaration by the government.
It is not a secret, Markarian explained, that our defense structure is
based on a Russian system. This is why changing it will require a lot
of time. This problem is independent of our will, he said. However,
if we take into consideration that the main problem in Armenia is that
of energy, we can easily see which possibility or option is in our
best interest. Thus, our position is not driven by our desire; we must
take into consideration what is possible. If we are to consider this
issue from a sentimental perspective, and ignore the fact that we are
still in a war, or ignore the geographical location of Armenia and the
features of our defense system, it would be easy to choose Europe over
Russia. But addressing this problem from such a viewpoint is wrong.
The primary concern for us is not the sentimental aspect of the
problem, but rather the responsibility with which we should deal
with it. Yet, he went on, the shortcoming of this decision was the
fact that the Armenian authorities did not create possibilities for
establishing a unified government position on this issue, which is
why the public and the other political parties were all surprised.
Regarding the negotiations with the European Union, Markarian stated
that the whole process was not useless. Adopting European values
and making our country conform to them is the main goal that we
should pursue, he said. In other words, we must seek European values
without necessarily joining the European Union. We believe in the
right of the people to choose their representatives, he explained,
and therefore we do not need the intervention of the Europeans in
establishing democracy in Armenia. By not refusing Europe completely
on the one hand, and choosing the Russian direction on the other,
we have brought relief to our people, soldiers, and army, he said.
Markarian also talked about Armenian foreign policy and explained that
while the ARF's problem with the Armenian authorities is internal,
it shouldn't come at the expense of Karabagh, or the right of
future generations, or the campaign for genocide recognition. That
which strengthens our state and economy must not be a victim in this
internal conflict, he underscored. Regarding ARF Bureau member Vahan
Hovhannesian's ambassadorship, Markarian made it clear that it does not
mean the ARF is sympathetic to the foreign policy of Armenia; rather,
Hovhannesian was the best candidate they had. Markarian believes that
this is a positive if rare move on the part of the authorities, for the
ARF, and for Hovhannesian himself. He made it clear that Hovhanessian
is the kind of political figure who would resign immediately if he
were made to work against his principles and beliefs.
Markarian stated that Hovhannesian will be sent to Germany, and
that he is looking forward to the strengthening of Armenian-German
relations, especially before the centenary of the Armenian Genocide,
which would counter-balance the Turkish lobby there. The Armenian
authorities assigned a political mission to Hovhannesian, he said.
He concluded by emphasizing that just because the ARF opposes the
current president of Armenia, it does not prevent the party from
accepting offers that would benefit the Republic in general. The
ARF clearly differentiates where the homeland begins and where the
government does, and where statehood and homeland end, he said.
http://asbarez.com/114037/markarian-discusses-custom%E2%80%99s-union-hovhanessian-ambassadorship/
Wednesday, September 18th, 2013
Hrant Markarian
BY VARAK KETSEMANIAN
>From The Armenian Weekly
In a recent interview on the "Yerkrin Hartse" television program in
Armenia, Hrant Markarian, the chairperson of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF) Bureau, presented the ARF's stance on various issues
concerning the Armenian Republic today.
Since Sept. 3, he said, when Armenia decided to join the Russian-led
Custom's Union, most of the discussions and debates in the country
have revolved around this issue. The public reaction against the
move has been strong, since it was seen as an unexpected and unusual
declaration by the government.
It is not a secret, Markarian explained, that our defense structure is
based on a Russian system. This is why changing it will require a lot
of time. This problem is independent of our will, he said. However,
if we take into consideration that the main problem in Armenia is that
of energy, we can easily see which possibility or option is in our
best interest. Thus, our position is not driven by our desire; we must
take into consideration what is possible. If we are to consider this
issue from a sentimental perspective, and ignore the fact that we are
still in a war, or ignore the geographical location of Armenia and the
features of our defense system, it would be easy to choose Europe over
Russia. But addressing this problem from such a viewpoint is wrong.
The primary concern for us is not the sentimental aspect of the
problem, but rather the responsibility with which we should deal
with it. Yet, he went on, the shortcoming of this decision was the
fact that the Armenian authorities did not create possibilities for
establishing a unified government position on this issue, which is
why the public and the other political parties were all surprised.
Regarding the negotiations with the European Union, Markarian stated
that the whole process was not useless. Adopting European values
and making our country conform to them is the main goal that we
should pursue, he said. In other words, we must seek European values
without necessarily joining the European Union. We believe in the
right of the people to choose their representatives, he explained,
and therefore we do not need the intervention of the Europeans in
establishing democracy in Armenia. By not refusing Europe completely
on the one hand, and choosing the Russian direction on the other,
we have brought relief to our people, soldiers, and army, he said.
Markarian also talked about Armenian foreign policy and explained that
while the ARF's problem with the Armenian authorities is internal,
it shouldn't come at the expense of Karabagh, or the right of
future generations, or the campaign for genocide recognition. That
which strengthens our state and economy must not be a victim in this
internal conflict, he underscored. Regarding ARF Bureau member Vahan
Hovhannesian's ambassadorship, Markarian made it clear that it does not
mean the ARF is sympathetic to the foreign policy of Armenia; rather,
Hovhannesian was the best candidate they had. Markarian believes that
this is a positive if rare move on the part of the authorities, for the
ARF, and for Hovhannesian himself. He made it clear that Hovhanessian
is the kind of political figure who would resign immediately if he
were made to work against his principles and beliefs.
Markarian stated that Hovhannesian will be sent to Germany, and
that he is looking forward to the strengthening of Armenian-German
relations, especially before the centenary of the Armenian Genocide,
which would counter-balance the Turkish lobby there. The Armenian
authorities assigned a political mission to Hovhannesian, he said.
He concluded by emphasizing that just because the ARF opposes the
current president of Armenia, it does not prevent the party from
accepting offers that would benefit the Republic in general. The
ARF clearly differentiates where the homeland begins and where the
government does, and where statehood and homeland end, he said.