Armenian lawmakers call for balanced policies between EU and Eurasian Union
Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) on the one hand and the continuing partnership with the EU on the other are a good opportunity for the country to maneuver between the two cooperation formats, pursuing balanced policies, say parliament members.
“Being an EEU member state, Armenia has to by all means undertake steps towards building active relations with the EU institutions, preventing a possible provocation (which we have already eye-witnessed). I do accept the policy of maneuvers, and understandably, quite serious work is now underway with respect to the other states in the region,” Ruben Hakobyan, the leader of the opposition Heritage faction in National Assembly, said at the parliament briefing on Friday.
According to Artsvik Minasyan, an opposition MP from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun (ARF-D), Armenia pursues the right approach by not ruling out the future development of cooperation with the EU family. “There is an understanding by leading countries, so we should not succumb to the provocative statements attempting to derail the cooperation. [Such an intention] is clearly seen from pro-Turkish and pro-Azerbaijani statements,” he said.
Admitting that he doesn’t expect a new EU-Armenia deal to be signed at the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga, Minasyan meantime stressed the importance of active efforts towards developing cooperation. He cited President Serzh Sargsyan’s speech and the statement made by German Chancellor Angela Merkel as a serious message signaling the continuing cooperation.
Hovhannes Margaryan of the opposition Rule of Law faction said their political team too, attaches importance to a balanced partnership.
“Being an EEU member, we must do all our best to ensure balanced policies with other leading countries, particularly the EU [member states]. And there are certain efforts are really under way,” he said, citing the EU-assisted judiciary reforms and human rights policies as a successful example of cooperation.
Levon Zurabyan, who heads the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) faction. also emphasized the importance of balanced of a balanced cooperation. He said their political force has always sought for effective relations with both the EU and the United States, and Russia and Iran. “The doctrine was approved back in [19]91 by [Armenia’s first President and current ANC leader] Levon Ter-Petrosyan, and we have always been committed to it. For us, that is the value of independence,” he said.
Zurabyan further blamed the Armenian authorities for myopic policies pursued amidst the West-Russia tensions. “Instead of harmonizing the interests between the West and Russia, they entered into a game which became confrontational, Armenia [the dilemma of] ‘either… or’ imposing upon. We have to understand that the real key is the harmonization of interests of the EU, Russia and the US,” he added.
Mikael Melkumyan of the Prosperous Armenia faction cited Serzh Sargsyan’s talks with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, noting that a report published subsequently highlighted plans developing a simultaneous partnership within the two integration formats (instead of the ‘either or …’).
“As an EEU member, we chose security and strategic interests. It’s a different matter that we do not have an alternative. Despite the status quo [over Nagorno-Karabakh], we are trying to cooperate closely with the EU, pursuing not only European values but also economic [interests],” he said noting that Armenia is part of the GPS+ system.
“I think that being an EEU member, we have a chance to integrate proportionally into the EU - to the extent that the [Eurasian] Customs Union allows us that,” he said.
The secretary of the ruling Republican faction, Gagik Melikyan, referred to the president’s speech hailing the simultaneous cooperation with both unions.
“The balanced and multi-vectoral polices pursued by Armenia received a high appreciation not only in the region but also in the EU. And that’s what the German chancellors said yesterday, highly appreciating Armenia’s policies, especially in terms of abstention from increasing tension. She also hailed President Sargsyan’s efforts,” he said, expressing hope for a deeper and more developed cooperation in not only the political but also the economic sector.
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