The joint sitting of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Ties with Compatriots of the RF State Duma was held at the National Assembly.
After the press conference, RA Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Shavarsh Kocharyan said that the Road Map of Armenia’s joining Customs Union is envisaged to be established by the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in December. He also said that in this direction Armenia is implementing works referring to the problem of the compliance of our legislation with the legislation of the Customs Union, and expressed his opinion that Yerevan will be practically ready for the Customs Union and the signing of the treaty of joining the United Economic Community until February.
In this connection, Aravot.am asked the political scientist, expert of “Center for Political and International Studies” Ruben Mehrabyan in what he believes to be the reason for such a hurry. The political scientist said, “Naturally, after the upcoming events in Vilnius, on Nov. 24, evidently, a new geopolitical situation and a new political environment will be established in the post-Soviet area, consequently, today, Russia is interested to fix its “achievements” in Armenia as soon as possible, to document them, so that it would be much harder for Armenia to stand back, because Armenia’s stand back, they also realize it, that it is inevitable.”
To our question why it is inevitable, Mr. Mehrabyan replied, “It is because the so-called unions that are formed to only satisfy Putin’s personal ambitions just do not stand the time, any experience of the history.”
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We also asked the political scientist how he would comment on the concern raised by Nicol Pashinyan at the session, according to which, it is mostly talked about the special status of Russian language in Armenia.
According to Mehrabyan, these rumors are the logical continuation of the atmosphere established in Armenia after September 3, “These rumors about the special status of the Russian language, began since the times of rumors on reopening of Russian language schools, and are regularly touched upon, but encountering public pressure, dissatisfaction, are again retreated. And, this time, it is the next attempt. It’s high time for the Armenian public to say its key and decisive word to the circus, to this customs circus, and to put an end to this comedy.”
To our question whether we have the resources to say this drastic “no” to Russians, when with economically more powerful and geopolitically more favorable conditions, Ukraine, seem to undergoing the pressure of Russia, Mr. Mehrabyan replied, “Of course, we have. These resource is the society. Moreover, it is also understood in Ukraine, and they expected to come out to the streets on November 24. Everyone understands that the pressure is pressure, but it be given to it generated from vicious power that exists in Armenia and in Ukraine. If these authorities did not have the criminal oligarchic nature, it is possible to resist this pressure, and to show that the matter should not get to the point that Russia decides what we should or shouldn’t do.”
To our observation that the Georgian authorities have no deficit of legitimacy, and probably, therefore, it withstands, the political scientist responded, “Yes, and it is very well understood in Russia, and they will not apply to Georgia with such an indecent proposal.”
Melania BARSEGHYAN
