YEREVAN. – Armenian president’s announcement is the first step that should be discussed and receive appropriate treatment. 

Opposition National Self-Determination Union (NSU) Chairman, ex-presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan stated the abovementioned during a press conference on Thursday. 

Hayrikyan commented on President Serzh Sargsyan’s recent announcement, which he made during his talk in Moscow with Russian Federation (RF) President Vladimir Putin, that Armenia is prepared to become a member in the Customs Union.   

The NSU leader noted that Sargsyan’s announcement in itself means nothing, since it becomes a working law solely when the National Assembly of Armenia discusses it and the Constitutional Court finds it constitutional.   

As for Presidential Chief of Staff Vigen Sargsyan’s statement that the signing of the Armenia-EU Association Agreement is still on Armenia’s agenda, Hayrikyan noted that bilateral relations include the view of the other party, which this time has clearly said there is no “and, and” option for them.

The former presidential candidate stressed that Putin’s decision to re-establish the ex-Soviet Union is piratical and Armenia needs to make a choice.  

Reflecting on the European countries’ reaction to Sargsyan’s announcement, Hayrikyan said they have an exceptionally friendly attitude toward Armenia, but they should not constantly turn a blind eye. 

“They understand that Armenia behaved very badly, but they [also] understand that Armenia needs to live. And at this point, when RF gave Smerch [weapons] to Azerbaijan, it turned it into Russia’s raging dog. Hence, they are just being considerate,” Paruyr Hayrikyan concluded.             

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am