The response of Armenian MPs to the President of Georgia
Although the ruling RPA party representatives claim that while making the decision to join the Customs Union, no pressure was exerted to the President of Armenia, and with various references they are trying to create the impression that the decision to join the Customs Union is the result of numerous meetings and discussions, on the eve of the UN General Assembly session, in his speech, speaking about the Eastern European countries that strive to become part of the European family, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili announced that they are subjected to pressure. “Armenia is driven to the corner and was forced to sign the document on the Customs Union, which is not to the best interests of the nation and the region. Moldova is exposed to blockade, Ukraine is under attack, Azerbaijan is under great pressure, and Georgia is occupied,”- said the President of Georgia.
To the observation of “Aravot”, in fact, the pressure on Armenia was so evident that is was noticed not only by Armenians, but also others, MP of “Prosperous Armenia” parliamentary faction, PAP Spokesman Tigran Urikhanyan opposed, “I would ask the President representing political minority of a country of introducing our neighbor, friend, very dear and respected people to remember that the Republic of Armenia is a sovereign, independent state, and makes its decisions based on its own interest.” As to how the decision to join the Customs Union is based on the interests of RA citizens, is still difficult for the PAP MP to say due to obvious reasons. “Because we ourselves are waiting for justifications, but, in general, I gave the answer to the words of the President representing the political minority of our neighboring country.”
Representative of the ruling Republican Party, secretary of RPA parliamentary fraction Hovhannes Sahakyan in reverse to our observation said,- “I do not think that the obviousness of the pressure on RA should be seen from Mikheil Saakashvili’s statements. Saakashvili at least to this moment and still is leading the Republic of Georgia, as President, and is free to express his opinion or views based on specific problems of his country, positions, prospects and other factors. I do not think that Saakashvili’s statement should be a basis for anyone, especially Armenia, allegedly obviousness of executed pressure. We have repeatedly said that there was no pressure and could not be.” Our interlocutors view the speech of the neighboring country’s President from the perspective of upcoming end of his term.
Continuing, Mikheil Saakashvili noted that the RF does not have the benefit of having steady states around it. In this context, the President of Georgia interpreted the Karabakh-Azerbaijan issues as follows: “No, they do not want anyone to get an advantage of the conflict, because it keeps the two nations dependent and blocks the desire to be integrated into the European territory.” To our question to this respect, PPA MP said,- “I would like to see that the politicians of our neighbor and friend countries, including opposition politicians, in particular, as it is President Saakashvili in this case, not to articulate the shade of their relations with the figures of other countries on the relations of RA with other countries.” The reaction of the ruling party’s representative was as follows: “Some things from Mikheil Saakashvili’s statements can be definitely perceived in political sciences.
For example, under the pretext of establishing a democracy, a number of western countries enter this or that country, trying to solve some problems, or conduct processes. There are countries that on the excuse of settling unresolved conflicts are trying to be introduced to the region. In this particular case, RF is introduced in the format of the Karabakh-Azerbaijani conflict settlement, and not only in Armenia, but, also in the region. But, since there is a Georgian-Russian problem, the opinion expressed in this light, cannot be a concern for me or unbiased. It should just be a little attentive as to when, where and why Mr. Saakashvili makes those statements.”
Nelly GRIGORYAN
