For the Security of Armenia We Need an Atmosphere of Unity: Eduard Sharmazanov (EXCLUSIVE)

• 12.05.2018, 12:03
•  World,  Armenia,  NKR,  Diaspora,  Interview

Ahead of RA early parliamentary elections, which will take place on December 9, "Armedia" IAA  presents interviews with the representatives of political forces on their foreign policy priorities.

"Armedia’’ IAA presents an exclusive interview with the Spokesman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Eduard Sharmazanov.

 

- Mr. Sharmazanov, what steps should be taken to increase the security of Armenia?

-For increasing the security of Armenia, first of all, there must be an atmosphere of unity. But today, Pashinyan and his administration are sowing seeds of enmity in Armenia.

Meanwhile, Erdogan and Aliyev speak about the unity of Turkey and Azerbaijan at a parade in Baku, our acting Prime Minister divides the Armenian society into black and white and screams at Artsakh authorities, thus interfering in their internal affairs.

I officially declare that Pashinyan's government is a threat to our national security, because if a leader of a state who carries out his entire campaign through hatred and rivalry, he becomes the enemy of the Armenian statehood. His policy is hostile. Division is not from God, it’s from the evil.  By sowing hatred, one can’t build a country, one can’t gain love and solidarity. Thus, if the current situation continues, Armenia will weaken its security, and its economy, and its international reputation.

 

-How do you see the development of bilateral relations between Armenia, Russia, the US and the EU?

-As we see, we have worked effectively over the last ten years. During the years of our government Armenia-Russia relations have registered unprecedented progress. We will continue to promote the development of allied relations between Armenia and Russia, the basis of which is the development of military-political and economic relations. We support Armenia's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union, and we support the deepening of Armenia-CSTO relations. But unfortunately during these seven months, despite the promises of the acting prime minister, there has been no result in foreign policy. Today, Armenia, which took the CSTO Secretary General's position with great effort, is on the verge of losing this position. Pashinyan, who promised to do everything to retain the post of Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, has already changed his opinion by stating that this position is not so important.

It is worrying. We have concerns also over Armenia-EU relations. Last year, our authorities signed the Armenia-EU agreement, which is unprecedented for EAEU.  But from May to November Pashinyan's government has done nothing. He has abolished all our achievements. We gave him a country with 10% economic growth, he brought the budget to 4.9%. We have left him a balanced foreign policy, which he also nullified. The relations with the United States are not brilliant, too. Pashinyan says that as a result of his foreign policy, the level of trust in the Diaspora towards Armenia has increased, but during the last Telethon Armenian Diaspora raised $1.5 million less money than was raised a year before. And this is the result of the 'velvet revolution'. We have very serious problems. Relationship with allies is being harmed. There is no serious progress in relations with the United States, the EU or Russia. And whatever we have today, has been done on the basis of the achievements of the Republican Party and due to the efforts of the current professional staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ...

We clearly described our vision of the development of relationships with other countries in our pre-election program. We must deepen allied relations with Russia. Armenia's accession to EEU, which took place during our government, was an important achievement. By the way, the fact of the accession to EEU was criticized by Mr. Pashinyan. We also signed an agreement with the EU and we will force the current government to implement all the provisions of this agreement. The agreement with the EU is unique, and the EU countries that ratify the agreement, recognize the possibility of the realization of the right to self-determination. From now on, thanks to us no European country can only talk about territorial integrity.  Politicians must not live in the present moment. We should think for future generations. Today Pashinyan destroys the bright future of the coming generations because of his emotional, dramatic and unbalanced foreign policy. We are for the development of our allied relations with Russia in the CSTO, and in the EEU, as well as for the development of our partnership relations with the EU within the framework of the Armenia-EU agreement.

 

-How do you see the development of relations between Armenia and its neighboring countries, in particular, with Georgia and Iran?

-It is necessary to conduct correct policy with Iran, and not to make dangerous statements about the possible closure of the border with Iran after the visit of Bolton. And, as former head of the Armenia-Georgia Parliamentary Friendship Group, I should note that special attention should be paid to relations with Georgia.

 

- Do you think it is possible to normalize the Armenian-Turkish relations in the foreseeable future and what steps should the parties take in that direction?

- I spoke about Armenian-Turkish relations in Turkey in the presence of Yildirim (Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey). I said that Armenia is ready to establish diplomatic relations with Turkey without any preconditions, and that Turkey has closed the border. I also said that the Turkey's denial policy and Turkey's preconditions are unacceptable for us. If  Pashinyan talks about this in Yerevan,  I spoke about it in Turkey. Our political party believes that Armenia should establish relations with Turkey without preconditions, but we should not become a captive of the sick imperial Turkish ambitions. We should not settle relations with anyone at the expense of our national dignity. Everything that Serzh Sargsyan did during the Zurich Protocols, was right. And we have shown the whole world that the walls are being built not by Armenia, but by Turkey. Let's see how many states during Pashinyan administration will recognize the Genocide and how many states will recognize the Denial. I myself contributed to the process of criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide in two countries, and in Cyprus it was recognized unanimously. In 2011, the process of recognizing the Genocide began in the Czech Republic, I organized exhibitions on the Armenian Genocide in the parliaments of seven European countries, and in 2015 in Greece, we held a special session in the country's parliament dedicated to the Armenian Genocide.