Head of the “Tsarukyan” faction, Naira Zohrabyan, as Chair of the European Integration Committee, was a co-speaker during the discussion of the EU agreement yesterday.
Approaching the National Assembly tribune, in her final speech, she said that she had prepared another speech, but after listening to the government’s wing, she decided to change it. “The government presents the signing of this agreement as a great sacrifice, a concession made for the people, even as a sacrifice done on an altar. No, that is not true, it is as necessary for Armenia, as it is for the EU”.
She said that either everything will end by signing the agreement and there will be no change, or the authorities must break their own backbone for implementing the agreement. Naira Zohrabyan said that the authorities should be able to make radical changes in all spheres: to eliminate economic monopolies, corrupt judicial system, etc.
According to Zohrabyan, the ruling MPs present this as a heroic battle, but this is the minimum that the parliament must do, the most important thing will start after the ratification.
Armen Ashotyan, Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, gave a tough response to Naira Zohrabyan, urging not to confuse her own point of view with the final speech on behalf of the Committee. “If we talk about European mentality, let us start with ourselves, for instance, dear oppositionists, let us not raise the tone of our voice at this tribune. This is important, because Europe begins and ends not by map, but by mentality”.
As for breaking the backbone, Ashotyan said: “Backbones can be broken during any construction, including state construction. These backbones can be different, so be ready for various sacrifices for the sake of state building that is fixed in this agreement”.
