After Brexit Serious Opportunity Opens for Armenia in its Relations with the EU: Boris Navasardyan, Head of Yerevan Press Club
Mr. Navasardyan, the whole world—politicians mass media, internet are discussing voting of the British people in favor of Brexit, which is a historical event both for Great Britain and the European Union (EU). In your opinion, what happened and what will after-effect of the occurrence be?
I think, it’s difficult to consider results of referendum completely unexpected, as recently Great Britain didn’t agree with the main direction, by which the EU was developing, and its best proof is that Great Britain joined neither Schengen zone, nor Eurozone, nor it supported the policy of freeing of EU visa regime, i.e. there were serious contrasts, and the issue prior to this referendum was only the fact how decisive they are in changing the situation. It turned out, that they are decisive.
The occurred, of course, is a rather serious challenge for the EU and will oblige to proofread the policy implemented towards various directions of the EU—social, politics, migration in the field of Neighborhood and Enlargement Policies. That challenge supposes rather lasting and hard discussions and those discussions within the EU structures will tend not to be temptations for other countries, and follow the example of Great Britain, i.e. through the way of seeking for consensus, and today the EU will take that direction, and it, as I already mentioned, may presuppose proofreading of policy in many directions.
Armenia is particularly interested in the future of European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). Experts, analysts state in their articles that this is an opportunity for the EU to focus on its internal issues for slowing down the ENP. What do you think what will the proofreading text in this direction be?
Of course, it shouldn’t be excluded that many EU member countries will attempt to review their Neighborhood programs and limit the activity of the EU from the standpoint of neighbors and potential members. However, the EU, as a unity, can’t completely withdraw from that policy. The EU needs for loyal and trustful friends under this crisis, including beyond the EU.
If any country proves that it may be a loyal and a trustful partner, by that contributing to overcoming of the EU challenges, and I don’t exclude deepening of relations towards those countries. But if the countries have some limitations, and they abstain from decisive activities, maybe towards those countries, even if they are included in any strategy of the Neighborhood, more passive policy will be recorded, and deepening of relations with them will slow down or be totally suspended. This is the moment, when partners shouldn’t wait what the EU will provide to them and an application should be submitted to deepen ties with the EU. I observe a perspective within the ENP for such countries.
Following the euphoria within Russia media and expert community supposes calls in Armenia’s pro-Russian segment regarding not deepening relations with the EU, as it’s not stable and the British example is existent. In this regard what issue does Armenia have and how will it be reflected on Armenia-EU relations?
I think currently three groups are available in the Armenian society, and activities, imagination of those three groups with the EU will be simply enshrined and become more clear. One of them is the group you mentioned: they are for Armenia’s development through Eurasian Union, in particular, deepening ties with Russia and integrate, to some extend yielding country’s sovereignty.
The second group mainly comprises people from the ruling elite, who consider they shouldn’t be deprived of any possibility and not to manifest a particular decisive behavior towards Europe, and only attempt to at least obtain financial assistance through negotiations, however, implementing qualitative changes neither inside the country, nor in foreign policy.
The third group comprises people, who consider that Armenia’s current geo-political orientation wasn’t true and we should return to the Association Agreement, and the agenda of deepening relations with the EU. I think, not good times are awaiting the third group. However, as I already mentioned, this is also an opportunity for any country, able to show that the EU needs for it and may be useful to the EU, a very serious opportunity is opening today, it’s the opportunity, which lacked, when everybody was open for cooperation with the EU, and it could choose the countries, and currently it doesn’t have such a big choice, and the country, which will prove that it’s loyal to the EU ideologies and is ready to invest its services in implementing the EU concept, geo-political model, is a perspective, a chance. Unfortunately, it’s less probable that under present-day conditions that disposition in Armenia may succeed, however, we should try.
By Araks Martirosyan
