Under “Face to Face” talk-show of online Aravot, the topic is discussed between NA MP Margarit Yesayan (RPA) and Vice-President of “Heritage” party, Armen Martirosyan
Aram Abrahamyan – Today, we will not go into details about the EU Parliament session in Strasbourg. It just seems a little ridiculous to me that you as participants are agreeing or disagreeing on something over there, and then coming here, you start arguing on we should have done this way or another way.
Margarit Yesayan – We argued neither there nor here, if there is a dispute, it was just around principal issues. The delegation consisted of opposition politicians and representatives of the government, naturally, there should be some disagreement, and this is a normal working process. Anyway, generally, our delegation worked in harmony, and in honor of all the male members of our delegation, by the way, I was the only female member of the delegation, all were professionals, they behaved properly at the session and after it, and later, in human interpersonal relations.
A. A. – Were the Europeans too much offended with us?
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M. Y. – Naturally, it would be very surprising if there were not offended. If I now say, no, they were not offended, they were just fascinated by our recent foreign policy displays, you will not believe. Of course, they are offended, of course, they are surprised, of course, they do not feel particularly happy with the fact. However, there is another factor: they do not want to lose Armenia. In other words, they are retrying to find ways, forms, and tricks to continue cooperation with Armenia.
A. A. – They do not want to lose Armenia. So, why do they need Armenia?
Armen Martirosyan – I also agree that it seems like they do not want the lose Armenia. Of course, it is sad that they do not want to work after being deceived in the relations with political forces and after burning their hands. As to what our guilt is, we do not know. We have repeatedly warned them that it is not only necessary to work with the authorities, but the opposition, moreover, when there is a party in the face of “Heritage”, which is the first party in Armenia that recognized the European integration as a priority foreign direction. Anyway, they did what they did, and today the authorities getting their most desired “approvals” related to 2012-2013 rigged elections, received the positive evaluations after the elections. Later on, the authorities, to maintain their illegal money, moved ahead to the Customs Union.
M. Y. – I do not want to largely speak on the subject, however, I want to remind that, yesterday, 9 MPs of the same European Parliament were accused of taking bribe from Azerbaijan and received a severe reprimand, however, you can not specify a single case when any EU MP, who has been an observer in our presidential or parliamentary elections, was accused of taking bribes from Armenia and spreading false information about the elections.
A. A. – Have the Prescott and others taken money from our government?
A. M. – To tell the truth, I have not seen, even though some people have strong doubts, but even that does not matter. If there is a matter of giving political assessment, no matter you give bribe or not, it’s all the same, the political assessment will take place. I was saying about the political assessment. I agree that the Europeans really do not want to lose Armenia because there exists a simple problem, they want to live in a safer region, they want their market and economy be stronger. They want a closer relationship with such neighbors, who have their own value system, which is closer to them and more predictable for them.
M. Y. – I partly agree, continuing I will say that it is no secret that Armenia in this region is the country and the state, which is much more carrier of European values than Azerbaijan, and is much more predictable and stable than Georgia. That’s why Europeans need us. The Republic of Armenia is the anchor in the region, which could be a link with Iran, the United States, and, why not, Russia, we just have a very important problem, Karabakh issue, which we just should and are obligated to solve.
Prepared by Aram ABRAHAMYAN
The “Face to Face” talk-show was released by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia. The views and analyzes found in this transmission express the opinions of the participants and are not approved by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia or its Board. This transmission was made possible thanks to comprehensive financial assistance of the Open Society Foundations – Armenia under the mass media support program, grant N18624.
