Political parties still do not know what document will be signed in Vilnius At the Parliamentary sessions, during 2014 budget discussions, answering questions raised by MPs what document Armenia will sign with the EU, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said that at least ten days before the summit in Vilnius the content of the document to be signed in Vilnius will be definitely clear. Yesterday, during parliamentary briefings, representatives of political parties at answering the question whether they are aware of this document, are familiar with its content, the responses were negative, recalling the past examples when the official documents are ‘inaccessible’ to the political forces. Outstanding representative of the dominant political force, Galust Sahakyan’s only difference from the opposition was that the latter did not complain and express dissatisfaction about his being unaware. Moreover, filled the ears of journalists with some bulk of word to hide his being unaware and and creating an impression that everything is not so bad. In the conversation with “Aravot”, RPA faction secretary Hovhannes Sahakyan, answering the question whether he knows what document should be signed in Vilnius, said, “We all know that the document, which was prepared, on which we have worked, can not be signed as such. Competent authorities, those who are eligible, as well as on behalf of Mr. Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, work on this document, and before the Vilnius summit some information will be provided to the public. “Generally, analyzing the logic of process, RPA MP once again ascertained that Armenia from the outset was right of its decision, and everything was done for the benefit of society and the state. He notes that in spite of their opponents, now, it can be clearly stated that Armenia’s integration into the European family has not failed and is not in the deadlock. “There is continuation, there is collaboration at least about the item, about which we have talked: political consultations, reforms, continuation of programmatic and institutional reforms of governance system.” Hovhannes Sahakyan also rushed to disappoint the RPA opponents by qualifying their alarms regarding Armenia’s isolation empty. We asked Hovhannes Sahakyan to share his thoughts on the dilemma that Ukraine has actually facing today: the Customs Union or the European Union, whether Ukraine will sign the EU Association Agreement, what possible developments will follow, and what reactions they will make to Armenia. “I would not like to mix the context of Armenia and Ukraine. Each state makes its own calculations for the benefit of its people,” said the MP, adding that, in his assessment, Ukraine in legal and practical aspects was entirely on a different dimension, and the one year work that this country had conducted for signing the Agreement, is more serious and justified.
As to why Ukraine faced the dilemma, why the president and the prime minister of this country make contradictory statements, and what will happen in Vilnius, Hovhannes Sahakyan considers that it is the problem of given country. He states that Armenia made more calculated and balanced decision based on its entire interests: regional development, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, RA and NKR security and economy. “To connect one with the other or to make some statements today, I think we showed a little haste. And, if Ukraine joins the Customs Union, we, as a common economic area, see a larger, more expansive area. In my opinion, more expansive is the Customs Union, much easier and more efficient will be the cooperation in terms of economy.” RPA MP does not consider regional processes and various kinds of statements accidental, but he urges to display patience and wait for the results of the summit in Vilnius. There is a view that what happened to Armenia on September 3 was actually directed against Ukraine, that by imposing such decision to Armenia, RF ruling class was actually warning Ukraine. MP once again reiterated that nor pressure was exerted on Armenia, and that this view has already lost its power. “The decisions of Armenia and Ukraine are not connected. Each state decides its own interests. Here, we are in a slightly advantageous position, because we have always been honest with RF strategic partner and the European partners, and in all the meetings we have stated that we will work with the principle of and-and.”
Nelly Grigoryan
