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UKRAINE EVENTS INSPIRING FOR ARMENIAN OPPOSITION, SAYS HERITAGE MEMBER
http://armenianow.com/news/52233/armenia_ukraine_maidan_developments
NEWS | 24.02.14 | 15:24
Photolure
By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The Ukrainian opposition's victory could be inspiring for the Armenian
opposition and add to the fears of the government, says opposition
Heritage party member Stepan Safaryan.
Talking to ArmeniaNow, Safaryan said that while people can be excited
about it, "the adequacy of the political forces' agenda to public
expectations may still remain a problem".
Unlike in Ukraine, where the government's refusal to proceed with
the policy of European integration led to massive protests and
eventually a regime change, in Armenia only a few political parties
(including Heritage and Free Democrats) condemned the decision to
join the Russian-led Customs Union of Armenia. Protests staged in
that connection in Armenia did not attract many people. The other
non-governing forces represented in parliament, including the Armenian
National Congress, Prosperous Armenia and Dashnaktsutyun, did not
speak against the decision to join the Customs Union at all.
Meanwhile, the street protests that began in Ukraine in November led
to a change of power that came at a price of dozens of victims killed
during clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Hundreds
were injured in street battles. Eventually, Ukrainian President
Viktor Yunkovych was ousted from his position by the Supreme Rada,
the country's legislature, and he fled capital Kiev on Saturday.
Yanukovych's whereabouts remain unknown. Meanwhile, former prime
minister Yulia Tymoshenko was released from prison. She has announced
her intention to run for president in elections scheduled for May.
Official Yerevan has not yet reacted to the events in Ukraine in any
way. Only lawmakers, at the suggestion of opposition leader Levon
Zurabyan, observed a moment of silence for the victims in Ukraine in
the National Assembly on Monday.
Heritage's Safaryan says that the Ukrainians have managed to convince
Russia that its bullying behavior will lead to even worse consequences.
"What has happened in Ukraine shows that these people are sick and
tired of the Russian yoke, this is the result of [Russia's] policy
towards Ukraine. Deterioration of relations takes place because
of this policy no matter towards whom it is being conducted," says
Safaryan, adding that in Armenia, nevertheless, in the event of a
popular uprising the government will first of all fear not the people,
but foreign interference.
"Armenia's authorities know that they have been dishonest with
Europeans, they know that there is mistrust towards them also in
Russia, therefore at this moment they wait and see who will benefit
from the situation, who will stir the situation... and they will try
to understand how they can save themselves," he says.
Armenian government officials routinely deny that by taking the
decision on joining the Customs Union in September Armenia acted
dishonestly towards the EU or incurred Moscow's distrust because of
its policies in recent years.
Meanwhile, Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute Deputy Director, political
analyst Sergey Minasyan believes that after the developments in Ukraine
Armenia will be able to negotiate around joining the Customs Union on
more favorable conditions. Minasyan also thinks that the European
integration process could get a new impetus in the post-Soviet
territory in the wake of the events in Ukraine.
"In these conditions Armenia will have an opportunity to broaden its
multi-faceted relations with the EU," says the analyst.
http://armenianow.com/news/52233/armenia_ukraine_maidan_developments
NEWS | 24.02.14 | 15:24
Photolure
By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The Ukrainian opposition's victory could be inspiring for the Armenian
opposition and add to the fears of the government, says opposition
Heritage party member Stepan Safaryan.
Talking to ArmeniaNow, Safaryan said that while people can be excited
about it, "the adequacy of the political forces' agenda to public
expectations may still remain a problem".
Unlike in Ukraine, where the government's refusal to proceed with
the policy of European integration led to massive protests and
eventually a regime change, in Armenia only a few political parties
(including Heritage and Free Democrats) condemned the decision to
join the Russian-led Customs Union of Armenia. Protests staged in
that connection in Armenia did not attract many people. The other
non-governing forces represented in parliament, including the Armenian
National Congress, Prosperous Armenia and Dashnaktsutyun, did not
speak against the decision to join the Customs Union at all.
Meanwhile, the street protests that began in Ukraine in November led
to a change of power that came at a price of dozens of victims killed
during clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Hundreds
were injured in street battles. Eventually, Ukrainian President
Viktor Yunkovych was ousted from his position by the Supreme Rada,
the country's legislature, and he fled capital Kiev on Saturday.
Yanukovych's whereabouts remain unknown. Meanwhile, former prime
minister Yulia Tymoshenko was released from prison. She has announced
her intention to run for president in elections scheduled for May.
Official Yerevan has not yet reacted to the events in Ukraine in any
way. Only lawmakers, at the suggestion of opposition leader Levon
Zurabyan, observed a moment of silence for the victims in Ukraine in
the National Assembly on Monday.
Heritage's Safaryan says that the Ukrainians have managed to convince
Russia that its bullying behavior will lead to even worse consequences.
"What has happened in Ukraine shows that these people are sick and
tired of the Russian yoke, this is the result of [Russia's] policy
towards Ukraine. Deterioration of relations takes place because
of this policy no matter towards whom it is being conducted," says
Safaryan, adding that in Armenia, nevertheless, in the event of a
popular uprising the government will first of all fear not the people,
but foreign interference.
"Armenia's authorities know that they have been dishonest with
Europeans, they know that there is mistrust towards them also in
Russia, therefore at this moment they wait and see who will benefit
from the situation, who will stir the situation... and they will try
to understand how they can save themselves," he says.
Armenian government officials routinely deny that by taking the
decision on joining the Customs Union in September Armenia acted
dishonestly towards the EU or incurred Moscow's distrust because of
its policies in recent years.
Meanwhile, Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute Deputy Director, political
analyst Sergey Minasyan believes that after the developments in Ukraine
Armenia will be able to negotiate around joining the Customs Union on
more favorable conditions. Minasyan also thinks that the European
integration process could get a new impetus in the post-Soviet
territory in the wake of the events in Ukraine.
"In these conditions Armenia will have an opportunity to broaden its
multi-faceted relations with the EU," says the analyst.