It’s going to be rather hard work, if not worthy of a Nobel Prize: Stepan Safaryan
Staying in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and creating a state of European model is going to be rather hard work.
Stepan Safaryan, head of the Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs (AIISA), told at the conference “EU-Armenia relations and perspectives”.
He stated that decision of 3 September 2013 is accepted to consider a turning point.
“It was two steps backward and until this day Armenia didn’t take any step forward instead. If the Association and DCFTA agreements were negotiated for 3.5 years, which rather deepened relations of Armenia and the EU in all fields, it’s been 3.5 years we have negotiations, where an attempt is made to redefine new relations between Armenia and the EU around the new agreement and the legal framework,” Stepan Safaryan said, adding if former agreement planned very serious approximation of economy legislation—identification with the legislation of the EU economy, currently we can’t have it, as Armenia joined EAEU, Armenia’s responsibilities within that union on the one hand, and uncertain perspective of evolution and vague future of that union on the other, cause big cautiousness regarding establishment of deep relations in the fields of economy and trade.
“In this regard I’d even be a bit cautious to call this agreement a light version of the Association Agreement (AA). As it’s stated, by that agreement issues of economy and trade bloc are planned, but, they can’t directly cross borders permitted by Moscow. Since morning I attempt to understand what this new agreement is about, and I wouldn’t understand. I’m sure no one did it, as it’s kept as secret, as the AA, and when the moment of disrupting it has come, even those stating themselves as supporters of European integration couldn’t protect something which they aren’t aware of,” Stepan Safaryan said, adding that he isn’t sure the same won’t be recorded and any political power, besides expressing posture, will do more—assume protection of the agreement.
Stepan Safaryan attached attention to the circumstance that the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs is being closed in the National Assembly.
“Does this say anything of Armenia’s European ambitions or not? I consider—it does. Does it say anything of the vision or not? It does. A body of corruption prevention is being formulated these days. I leave it aside, that the name was changed, if formerly committee on fight against corruption was being touched upon, now they prevent. I don’t know what this accentuation is conditioned by. Maybe we already fought against corruption, but does this say anything, moreover, when it’s developed on the basis of a body, which has proven its non-vitally for years?
Finally, I also consider the very April 2 parliamentary elections and their nature give a very bad message to say: do we have a European vision? I record with regret, that at the moment Armenia hints through indirect signals that it doesn’t set such ambitions, such a benchmark.”
Stepan Safaryan asked whether it’s possible to create a European-model state, when there is no clearly formulated vision.
“I wouldn’t like to be categorical and say it’s impossible, but even if there is little hope for its probability, I consider it’s going to be hard work, if not worthy of a Nobel Prize—stay in the EU and create a state of European model, have legislation in compliance with the EU economic, trade and others, being in a rather conservative, protectionist market and giving such messages regarding fight against corruption, democracy, free elections. Are we on the right course? I consider we aren’t on any direction.”
In any case, Stepan Safaryan considers, whether we realize or not, Europe and Armenia need each other, Armenia has vital necessity of using tools proposed by the EU.
By Ofelya Hovhannisyan
