Levon Ter-Petrosyan`s ANC outlines its position on applying for EU  candidate status

ArmInfo.The Armenian National Congress (ANC) of the first President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan  outlined its position on the proposal of the Armenian Prime Minister to  political forces, non-governmental organizations, different layers of society, citizens to express their attitude to the European  Parliament resolution, which, among other things, proposes to consider the possibility of granting Yerevan candidate status for membership of the European Union.

ANC Deputy Chairman Levon Zurabyan recalled that on March 12, the EU  Parliament adopted a non- binding resolution for the European  Commission, stating that "if Armenia is interested in applying for  candidate status and continuing on its path of sustained reforms  consolidating its democracy, it could set the stage for a  transformative phase in EU- Armenia relations."

"Responding to the adopted resolution, Prime Minister Pashinyan said:  "I hope that the political forces of the Republic of Armenia,  non-governmental organizations, various sectors of society, citizens  will express their attitude to this message of the European  Parliament...", Zurabyan added.

According to him, taking into account the fact that Pashinyan is  turning to the political forces of Armenia, expecting to express a  position on this issue, the ANC states:

1. The conflict between the West and Russia, which has grown to a  dangerous level in the last period, threatens global and regional  security, undermines international law and the effectiveness of its  global institutions, which is no longer sufficient to resolve  conflicts. Added to this is the reckless policy of the Armenian  authorities, which has caused unprecedented threats to the  sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country;

2. In such a situation and during such a period, an application for  obtaining candidate status for membership of the European Union, if  it occurs in conditions of deterioration and breakdown of relations  with the Russian Federation, may violate the historically balanced  policy pursued by Armenia. This, in turn, will create serious risks  associated with resistance from regional players, which equally  affect the vital interests of both our security and economic  security;

3. The experience of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova should have shown  what enormous losses of human life, territory and economic losses  were associated with steps taken in the wrong environment and at the  wrong time. These risks are multiplied in today's unprecedented  situation of global conflict.

4. The Armenian authorities are obliged to provide the public with a  detailed assessment of the threats, challenges and risks that will  arise as a result of officially applying for candidate status for  membership of the European Union. They are also required to present  the availability of the necessary guarantees and alternatives to  overcome them, as well as a detailed justification of the  possibilities, a realistic program of measures necessary to overcome  all security and economic challenges;

This work can only be done by the government, since only it has the  necessary information to develop these calculations and plans,  including diplomatic negotiations, military and economic resources  and guarantees of compensation associated with their potential  losses."

At the same time, the ANC is confident that the fact that the  government does not put forward such calculations and plans, but  instead turns to the political forces of the country with a proposal  to state their position, once again shows that they are abandoning  the constitutional function of leadership, avoiding responsibility  for making fateful decisions and they rely on their characteristic  method of manipulating the emotional outbursts of society. 

"This method once again proves that we are dealing with a government  that is completely incompetent in public administration and strategic  planning, driven solely by superficial passions, crowd-pleasing,  selfish goals and adventure.

In the context of turbulent geopolitical and regional conflicts, the  final results of which cannot be accurately predicted, it is in the  vital interests of Armenia to pursue a balanced policy. It is this  policy that will allow, on the one hand, to keep our country away  from the catastrophic danger of becoming a battlefield between  superpowers, and on the other hand, to improve relations in all areas  and become a center of peaceful and stable cooperation and  investment," the ANC summarized.