Armenian opposition calls to revise relations with Russia

In their foreign policy pre-election programmes, the electoral blocs "Elk" and "Tsarukyan", as well as the "Free Democrats" Party, stress the need to quit the subordinate position in relations with Russia.

The "Free Democrats" link Armenia's future with the accession to the European Union and believe that the country should expand and deepen its relations with the developed European countries. Angela Khachatryan, a candidate for an MP and the deputy chair of the party, spoke about it on March 10 at the discussion of political programmes at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. She questioned Armenia's security in the Eurasian Union, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The “Elk” bloc also treats Armenia's joining the Eurasian Union as a "political mistake," Edmond Marukyan, the head of the "Enlightened Armenia" Party and a candidate for an MP from the bloc, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"If our bloc comes to power, Armenia will resume negotiations with the European Union around the associative agreement and free trade zone, which were stopped," he said.

Members of the “Tsarukyan” bloc believe that Armenia should maintain and develop relations with both the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), in particular with Russia, and with the European Union, Naira Zograbyan, the head of the “Prosperous Armenia” faction and a candidate from the “Tsarukyan” bloc, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. Russia is Armenia's key strategic partner; and it is necessary to maintain normal relations with it, Ms Zograbyan has added.

At the same time, according to her version, there is another set of issues: defence of human rights, fighting corruption, democracy promotion and fair judicial system. In all these issues, the European Union, not Russia, is Armenia’s unequivocal ally. Besides, the "Tsarukyan" bloc sees the EU also as a primary ally in economic issues.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.