European Club attracts influential members, says founder
The recently launched European Club, which conducted its first session early in May, has for now attracted 80 members, including representatives of government institutions, says the founder of the initiative.
Speaking to Tert.am, Arthur Ghazinyan, the head of the Yerevan State University’s Center for European Studies, said most of their members are highly intellectual people whose influence can be great on political decision-makers.
“Our institution is being replenished as more and more people apply, wishing to participate in the Club’s sessions. We consider a candidate’s track record and ideological devotion [when making the selection],” he noted.
Asked whether the political decision-makers themselves also attend the meetings, Ghazinyan replied, “Of course, we have [such participants], but because the framework of decisions- makers is not quite clear in Armenia, their number is very little. Most can’t join [the meetings] due to a busy schedule. We have people who can slightly influence political decisions, as well as groups of individuals whose public speeches and analysis can have an impact on political decision-makers,” he explained.
Ghazinyan added that they have even invited representatives from Belarus, Russia and Khazakhstan (member states of the Eurasian Economic Union) to the meetings in an attempt to integrate them into the debates.
The European Club is a joint initiative by the Center for European Studies and the EU Delegation to Armenia.
Earlier reports in the press said it was an attempt to offer a counterbalance to the existing Russian clubs, an allegation which the Club has repeatedly denied.
“Our objective is to build the social system and the economic and political order that will eventually help integrate Armenia into the European family. As long as we pursue a Soviet or renewed Soviet-style state, social and legal system, we can never ever dream about integration. Neither can we ever consider any format of cooperation with the EU,” Ghazinyan added.
He further admitted that the European integration processes have been suspended in Armenia due to the country’s EEU membership (with all the government institutions being adjusted to the EEU norms and traditions etc).
Asked to comment on the renewed EU-Armenia cooperation talks which are now in their fourth round, Ghazinyan replied, “Even if we are in the eighth round, that won’t change anything, as we do not pursue a European integration process.”
Ghazinyan said at the end that the Club adheres to the principles of Chatham House (i.e. participants of discussions are not entitled to refer to, or speak of, a place or a speaker; they can unveil details of a private conversation with a high-ranking official, offering members a chance to listen to them attentively and do analyses).
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