A week before RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s adopting the decision to join the Customs Union, the expert of “Political and International Studies”, political scientist Ruben Mehrabyan, answering the question of Aravot.am whether the possible pressures exerted by RF in the next 2-3 months may result in RA authorities to refuse from initialing the Association Agreement, noted that “RA should eventually sign the Association Agreement.”
He then added,- “I think this is a belated confession that the so-called “Customs Union” is an obstacle. It is not only an obstacle to EU Association Agreement, but also a threat to the Armenian statehood. And it is belated, because, otherwise the so-called “and – and” meaningless concept would not be introduced into circulation with the helping hand from personally Serge Sargsyan, according to which, presumably, it is possible to combine the integration with the European Union with a project based on Putin’s neo-imperial “land collection” concept. Of course, not. It is simply self-deception. Moreover, the Association Agreement simply does not have an alternative for Armenia with respect to cultural, historical, strategic aspects.”
To the observation of Aravot.am that, in fact, even a week ago we could not accurately predict the political process, and whether it does not harm the rating of the political scientist, Mr. Mehrabyan responded,- “I’m responsible not for Serzh Sargsyan’s, but my statements. And I have said that the “and-and” policy is simply a self-deception, and sooner or later we need to conclude to “either-or”. The RA President made the choice in the direction of “either-or”, to Russia. I remain of the opinion that it does not promise anything good to Armenia, it is contrary to the logic of the development of the state.”
Ruben Mehrabyan believes that his reputation did not suffer from it, and details,- “I do not the problem of rating, whoever played the fool, let him think about the rating. Or, the one who has done everything for its happening, or has not stirred the finger, let him give the answer before his passed away souls and children. I am sorry, if there are people who think differently, now let them think about their rating.”
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According to the expert, the decision to join the Customs Union “was the last moment decision, a product of Russian blackmail, and the blackmail happened as a result of mistakes made by both RA authorities and the EU.” Ruben Mehrabyan continued to thought,- “The Europeans have cast a hope that the RF will behave not like a hooligan, but decent overall. And I’ve been warned about it long ago. The year of 2008 showed us that Russia is hooligan at least in the post-Soviet territory. That’s why it was necessary for Armenia to increase the stocks of strength, to exert pressure on the RF by Europeans. I’ve always said that the element of security is missing in strategy of the Eastern Partnership.”
Mr. Mehrabyan emphasized that he continues to believe that the European integration has no alternative, and “what did Serzh Sargsyan, was done under coercion.” In the opinion of Ruben Mehrabyan, “everything is as clear as a Siberian bumpkin.”
Customs Union membership, according to experts, is that the Armenian-Georgian border will be the same as the Russian-Georgian. Continuing the idea, our interlocutor said,- “The level of our customs fees should be raised to such a level that it protects the interests of Russian manufacturers. It is diametrically opposite to the interests of Armenia.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
To the observation of Aravot.am that, in fact, even a week ago we could not accurately predict the political process, and whether it does not harm the rating of the political scientist, Mr. Mehrabyan responded,- “I’m responsible not for Serzh Sargsyan’s, but my statements.
