YEREVAN. – Aravot daily asked Karine Afrikyan, former Head of the US and Canada Division of the Armenian MFA, how she treats the accusations that are made against the West and the European institutions, the daily reports.   

“[To the accusations] that they should have realized that the Armenian authorities were unable to lead Armenia to European values, to the EU Association Agreement. 

‘“I do not think that the EU did not realize what kind of authorities it is dealing with. But the authorities, which join this agreement on voluntary basis, had to be duty-bound to implement the commitments assumed with the agreement.

‘“Surely, the role of the civil societies and the opposition political forces of the countries, which have joined the agreement, likewise was extremely important in this process.        

‘“That is, by way of pressures, the [Armenian] authorities were to be compelled to implement truly political and socioeconomic reforms [in the country],’ Karine Afrikyan noted,” Aravot writes.