PACE winter session will held an urgent debate on “Functioning of democratic institutions in Ukraine,” as well as discussing the issue of Magnitsky’s murder and exempting perpetrators from responsibility. Aravot.am asked the member PACE Armenian delegation, Zaruhi Postanjyan, whether the Council of Europe, thus, gives an answer to Ukraine for the Government’s decision to join the Customs Union. Ms. Postanjyan replied, “It is necessary to combine Ukraine should be combined all the events taking place in Ukraine with other former Soviet territories, as well as with Armenia, because Ukraine, today, is solving the possibility of the people’s democratic life not only in this country, but also in Armenia, Georgia and Moldova, since we are all members of the Eastern Partnership and should sign documents within the Eastern Partnership, which assume the possibility of free trade with the EU.”
As said by Zaruhi Postanjyan, Russia needs Ukraine for the purpose of the Customs Union accession. If Russia is unable to make Ukraine join the Customs Union, then Russia’s imperial desire, which is combined not with real resources, but in the form of adventure, with rough means of pressure, would not be possible to realize without the participation of Ukraine. With this regard, Zaruhi Postanjyan said, “If Ukrainian is being discussed, this would have an implication to Armenia.” On the other hand, Zaruhi Postanjyan emphasized that nowadays Ukraine is an agenda item, because “even though Armenia is also important with its geopolitical position, however, Ukraine is on the first line, at this moment.” With regard to the response of the Council of Europe to Ukraine, Ms. Postanjyan responded as follows, “The Council of Europe is a political unit, where, of course, such and other implications do not happen as it were. They just have their own logic and special purpose.” To our specification whether it is also possible for the Europe to reveal the problematic issues related to Armenia, for example, March 1, fabrication of elections in Armenia, and so on, Ms. Postanjyan replied, “Everything is expected. However, at this point, as far as Ukraine is on the first line, the issue of this country is now more urgent than that of Armenia. Nevertheless, Armenia would not be ignored, and the general trend is that Russia does not conceal its imperial desire, it is made public, one of which is the initiative of the Customs Union, with which Russia is trying to restore the former Soviet Union territory. Mr. Putin does not hide this, he has repeatedly stated about it in his interviews.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
