YEREVAN. - In an interview with Armenian News – NEWS.am Deputy Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly (NA) Eduard Sharmazanov opposed to Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Świtalski with the same statement made earlier: Policy is not a wedding, where one pays money and orders music accordingly
A few days ago, Piotr Świtalski slammed the electoral processes in Armenia, noting that the composition of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of Armenia is not reliable and thus representatives of civil society should be included it. Referring to the Electoral Code, he also stated that the halls of power are attempting to make the election law suit their own political objectives. In responde to the Ambassador’s statements, Justice Minister of Armenia Davit Harutyunyan noted that the Ambassador is interfering with the domestic affairs of the country, while Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmaanov told Armenian News – NEWS.am that policy is not a wedding, where one pays money and orders music accordingly.
The harsh response of the ruling party representatives was followed by the press-conference of the EU Ambassador on Tuesday, during which he recalled that 90 percent of the external funding transferred to Armenia came from the EU and upon the public request of Armenia.
After these words, Deputy Speaker Sharmazanov has got an impression that the Ambassador is offended by the response of the Armenian side and is manifesting a “boyish conduct.”
“I noticed tones of offense. We had no intention to offend anyone: we [simply] stated the issue precisely. The Honorable EU Ambassador should realize very well that the democracy is first and foremost the ability to listen to opinions, even if that they are not in line with what one expects. We remain of the opinion that the assessments of the diplomat do not correspond to his powers,” he noted.
Referring to Świtalski’s words that if the European Union's presence in Armenia is unwanted anymore, they will not impose on it, Sharmazanov opposed: “Being offended is not a political category. The level of our relations with the EU is deeper and from this perspective I don’t think that such assessments are in conformity with our relations and stem from our interests. That expression that “we don’t impose [our presence]” and will leave if you don’t want is a very superficial assessment, and I don’t think that Piotr Świtalski is a superficial figure. Armenia has a mutually beneficial cooperation with the EU and I reiterate that in Armenia we make reforms stemming from our convictions and realization of ideas so that democracy is established in Armenia.
Does the EU support [us] in that issue? Yes, but it can’t impose its opinion. Boyish assessments don’t stem from the benefits of relations with the EU. I would like to reiterate: Policy is not a wedding, where one pays money and orders music accordingly. The orderer is exclusively the citizen of the Republic of Armenia.”
