Today, Raffi Hovannisyan stated at the conference in the “Noah’s Ark” that Russia’s recent steps that were obviously against Armenia, starting from selling of “Smerch”, imposing the Eurasian Union, price rise in gas and ending with discrimination against Hrachya Harutyunyan, is the fault of our governments. He said he is criticizing Russia for all these, because unlike other countries, we were expecting more, a special treatment from our strategic called ally. But I condemn our authorities for being completely dependent from Russia, and accordingly Russia for urging such treatment against us. The leader of the “Heritage” Party emphasizes that if it continues, there will be not anti-Russian moods, but ‘Armenian necessity’, and Armenia will need to terminate the CSTO membership.
“If Russia, our strategic partner, sends billions of dollars arms to the state that desires to wipe Armenia and Artsakh off the map, it is not a strategic partnership, and, if it goes like that, Armenia will need to review the CSTO membership. And treat CSTO in the same way as NATO. I have said that Armenia’s future system must be based only on bilateral strategic relations, Russia, China, India, America, Europe and so on.” As for the Association Agreement with the EU, Mr. Hovannisyan, on behalf of his party, said that they support initiating the Association Agreement, moreover, they are not against the European initiatives in terms of observation, and having permanent presence with regard to the Customs Union, but if there is a choice, we must choose in favor of the Association Agreement.
Anyway, Mr.Hovhannissyan has a reservation in this issue. “We must see as to what this Association Agreement represents itself, what is written in this Agreement. If it is only a settlement of the EU-Armenia relations in trade, economic and other fields, then, yes, we agree in principle. If the agreement states that Turkey must call off the blockade without preconditions, then, yes. But if this agreement will be used as a tool for putting pressure on Armenia in the issue of Artsakh and other issues, then, no.” In this regard, Mr. Hovannisyan said that it would be preferable that Armenia recognizes the independence of Nagorno Karabakh, and self-determination before signing of the Agreement. “If there is something written in the agreement about the Madrid principles and territorial integrity, then the territorial integrity must also refer to the newest states, including Artsakh, therefore, we need to recognize Artsakh’s independence.”
Melania BARSEGHYAN
