The RA Foreign Policy Priorities of 2015 Presents Karen Bekaryan

11:38     2 February, 2015

The statements voiced during the 5^th session of the State Committee coordinating the events dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the tense situation in the RA-Azerbaijani and NKR-Azerbaijani borders, integration processes – these are the topics around which the chairman of NGO "European Integration", analyst Karen Bekaryan talked during the press-conference in "Pastark" press club.   

 

The Centennial of Genocide

"For 2015 the centennial of the Genocide will be a priority topic during the whole year. It was important and it still remains important, that our perceptions are not more than is possible and are not minimal. It is important to clearly understand that this is not the endpoint of the struggle, but a milestone, after which the work will be continued," – said the expert referring to the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. 

Bekaryan stressed the importance of works for preparing a file of legal claims for the elimination of the consequences of the Genocide. "If these documents were prepared in a proper way and passed all the necessary procedures, they could become the greatest achievement of this year," – mentioned the expert. According to his predictions in 2015 Turkey will use its leverage to distract the attention of the international community and Armenia from the centennial of Genocide creating a tense situation in the border through Azerbaijan. 

The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

According to the expert there is not much optimism that the provocations in the borders will cease and both the authorities and the society of Armenia should not lose their vigilance. "It is not possible to speak in other language with Azerbaijan, negotiations around confidence building and the settlement package fail, it understands only the language of force," – mentioned Bekaryan.  

In this context he emphasized the recent announcements of the RA President and the Defense Minister. According to the expert the current situation requires both tactical and strategic changes and the authorization of preemptive strikes in case of necessity is one of those changes. "It should not seem to the enemy that the Armenian side has solved its all problems and now it should be in the role of keeping what it has "with teeth"," – said Bekaryan. 

Azerbaijan, by limiting the information flows, tried to create a shocking situation among the Armenian society, but it did not accomplished its aims, stressed the expert. "Moreover, the Armenian society both in the RA and NKR became more consolidated around the army. The strength of the Armenian side is not in its armament, but in its spirit," – said the expert.

Bekaryan also drew the attention of the journalists on other issues concerning Karabakh. He reminded, that recently the Freedom House report was published, which once again showed that the level of democracy and freedoms in NKR are much higher than in Azerbaijan. "In May parliamentary elections will be held in NKR, which, I am sure, will be a step forward on the way to the development of democracy," – mentioned Bekaryan.

In this context the expert referred to the latest press-conference of the Foreign Minister of NKR Karen Mirzoyan, in which he mentioned that in 2015 NKR will continue its efforts for international recognition and peaceful settlement. In this stage Bekaryan emphasized the importance of developing the recorded achievements and giving them "body and blood". According to Bekaryan the internal integration of RA-NKR is also important, particularly the exchange of schoolchildren.

   
Integration Processes

Karen Bekaryan referred both to the European integration and the Eurasian integration. As the expert stressed the Eurasian integration opens a number of opportunities for Armenia, which we should be able to use. "I think that the state should undertake the process of raising the awareness of the beneficiaries of the economic integration process, particularly the business environment," – mentioned Bekaryan. As the expert noted, those layers of the society that can take advantage form the opportunities provided by the new union, should be informed about it.

Second, he stressed that we should be able to take clear steps for showing the importance that Armenia has in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) to our other partner countries. "In this context there is work to be done regarding the relations with our neighboring countries – Georgia and Iran," – mentioned the expert. If we could provide exceptionally favorable conditions for the Georgian businessmen in Armenia for them to enter the EEU market, and at the same time in Georgia there were favorable conditions for the Armenian businessmen to enter the European market, as the expert said, we could be in a profitable situation in the process of that "bridging". The same with some adjustments can be applied to Iran.

In terms of the European Integration process, Bekaryan also sees great opportunities that should be realized. "One should not pay much importance to the name of the document that will be signed between Armenia and the EU. The document should fix those kind of legal basis of bilateral relations which should not be less than the relations of the EU and other EaP countries," – mentioned Bekaryan. According to him the economic part will also be included, but with some differences. At this stage the expert stressed the importance of Armenia being the initiator, the initiator not only in the EaP format.  

Bekaryan reminded that Armenia has traditionally friendly relations with the Arab countries of the Mediterranean basin. This, along with Armenia’s common Soviet history with the EaP countries, creates a special situation for Armenia in the context of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). The expert suggested to discuss, for example, the establishment of the ENP regional office in Armenia. At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that this should not be a step back from the EaP, but a parallel action to strengthen Armenia’s positions.