As per Karine Afrikyan, although everybody is talking about the loss of sovereignty, however it did not become a political agenda to act with united front.
– The whole world is watching the events taking place in Ukraine. The unprecedented fight of the Ukrainian society to lead this country by the path of European integration, also taking into account Russia’s recent moves toward Ukraine, can we say that the West-Russia “fight” in this issue is further aggravated?
– Indeed, Ukraine is the world’s spotlight, and, thanks to the Internet, also in the vision. Ukraine’s public response was unprecedented and, above all, for Ukraine. For European integration, such unity of Ukraine’s western and eastern regions came as a surprise for many, this new reality of Ukraine mixed Russia’s cards. Of course, Russia, at all costs, will try to establish the Customs Union as a foundation of USSR successor’s Eurasian Union, as a counterbalanced new “empire” to the European Union in the West, and to the East in China, however, the CU created through exerting pressure on “friendly countries”, even in the case of Ukraine’s accession to the CU, which does not seem likely any more, would be neither competitive, nor viable, because Russia’s corrupt economy does not have these resources. Russia will try to use the playing card to split Ukraine, but today’s events in Ukraine are irreversible, and first of all, at the level of consciousness of the majority of Ukrainians.
Ukrainians are consciously going to the EU as a guarantee of becoming a developed European country, realizing that it is a long and difficult process, and for this matter the European delegates, as well as the opposition leaders do not deceive them. It is, therefore, clear that the conscious choice of Ukrainian people getting to struggle should deserve the unprecedented support of the European Union, the United States and other advanced countries. The developments around Ukraine are creating a new geopolitical situation, and possible scenarios of resolution could not avoid resulting in aggravation of West-Russia relations. The evidence of this is the expel of Russian diplomats from the U.S. with charges of intrigue, expansion of Magnitsky’s list, and the statements about blocking of the accounts of government officials and oligarchs in the international banks, the statements of non-participating in Sochi Olympics by a number of European leaders, to which Obama may also join.
– How can we deepen the relations with the EU in the future with the decision to join the Customs Union?
– With regard to Ukraine events, the EU position has been changed, and probably the EU-Armenia relations would be built on mutual agreements and commitments. EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Stefan Füle has already stated that 25 million euros will be allocation to Armenia. The support is aimed at the civil society concerned about the future of Armenia’s sovereignty and democracy. As for the accusations against the European institutions and the U.S., they are directly associated with the events of the year 2008. At that time, there were also inconsistent accusations, and these charges are reasonable, but we should not also forget that these same institutions strongly condemned March 1 and the existence of political prisoners in their reports and resolutions, and eventually as a result of these resolutions it became possible to establish the March 1 events fact-finding group and to release the political prisoners. The United States also strongly condemned Armenia’s authorities at different levels and closed the “Millennium Challenge” program, and the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, on several occasions, voiced that Armenia’s future depend on the will and activeness of the Armenian people. Note also that similar criticisms were made by a number of European parliamentarians, and not only with regard to Armenia, but also questioning the effectiveness of leverage of European institutions to fight against the undemocratic authorities. The European institutions tried to find new solutions and new levers of influence. In 2009, the “Eastern Partnership” program was put forward, which aimed to attract post-Soviet states to European economic, value and legal area through providing support in political and socio-economic reforms of the said countries. Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement was aimed at execution of the very objective.
– In Maidan, hundreds of thousands of people are struggling, whereas in Armenia, several hundred people came out to the street on the day of Putin’s visit to Armenia protesting against the decision to join the Customs Union. Why, because the vast majority of our society believes that “Armenia would be destructed without Russia”, or there is no such opposition force that can lead the society, which as of today can go out to fight for the sovereignty of Armenia?
– But, this a few hundred people were enough to attract the attention of all media in the world, and to show that there is also another Armenia. I am convinced that the number of people fighting for the sovereignty of Armenia will be multiplied. As for the public, for a few years, the authorities of Armenia have been talking about signing the EU Free Trade Area agreement, and the public, seems, was not complaining, saying that “Armenia would be destructed without Russia” in other words, the public had no problem, and the problem arose only after Serzh Sargsyan’s statement to join the CU. The public opinion is guided and manipulated according to political conjuncture. Armenia’s decision to join the CU did not raise a wave of protest. Political parties and leaders, so far, are satisfied with the statements and discussions. Although everyone is speaking about loss of sovereignty, however, it did not become a political agenda to put the disagreements aside and act with united front, maybe there was no desire for it, too. There are forces that are stating that Armenia should not join the CU, nor the EU, when Armenia in fact is connected to the CU, with low status of “younger brother”, nominal sovereignty, and vulnerable security. At the same time, such position seems to equate between the CU and EU. In this case, it would be right to view the issue from the perspective of Armenia’s political, economic, and democratic development.
Joining the EU Free Trade Agreement is a voluntary choice. It is an opportunity for liberalization of monopolized economy, to further strengthen political and socio-economic reforms and democratic processes, to have additional leverage on electoral processes, which should result in socio-economic development. In case of failing to join, no sanctions are administered, you are just deprived of these opportunities. You join the CU as a result of pressure with loss of sovereignty; it is not economically advisable. In case of denial, they threaten by the possibility of resuming war, at the same tome actively equipping Azerbaijan by administration of economic and other sanctions. And what are the talks about in the Customs Union regarding the democracy, system changes or change of the power, when there would be appointing instead of choice.
Emma GABRIELYAN
