Oppositionist: Let me take you to Meghri, which Kocharyan  "surrendered", and you take me to Karabakh, which you "kept"

ArmInfo. When considering the benefits of the European Union in terms of ensuring Armenia's security, I am curious about how this will be achieved. On February  12, MP Anna Grigoryan from the opposition faction "Armenia," made  this statement at the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia,  while commenting on the draft law on launching Armenia's EU  accession, which was submitted by the initiative group. 

Grigoryan emphasized that ensuring security is more than just talk,  or beautiful toasts. The focus should be on specific programs, which  are currently non-existent, just like a "road map". "During   discussions, they try to convince us that discussing joining the EU  is pointless, it is only the beginning of a process. I have the  impression that this process will never progress beyond its starting  point. When we ask about the compatibility of the EU with the EAEU,  we are simply told  that leaving the Eurasian Economic Union is not  on the table," the MP said. She added that what is happening in the  National Assembly are directly related to the policy of the country's  authorities. Specifically, she pointed to the peace treaty with  Azerbaijan. For the Armenian authorities, it no longer matters what  will be written in it, the main thing is that the term "peace treaty"  is present in order to showcase it to voters in upcoming elections.

 "Today, no one is even ready to sign this pointless document. The  same thing is happening with the presented bill, which Nikol  Pashinyan put on the agenda, and which we are forced to discuss  today," the parliamentarian emphasized. She added that with all due  respect to the citizens who really want the country to join the EU,  it is very important to assess the reality of this step "on the  ground". Moreover, the government which is unable to solve the  country's visible problems, should  lead the movement towards the EU.  It was this government's policy, the deputy continued, that led the  country to end up on the EU aviation "black list" and become  completely dependent on the market of the Eurasian Economic Union. 

"They are talking about their intentions to join the EU  when the  Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement has only been  implemented by less than 40%. Now they are saying that the country  should joing the EU, but first, you should fully utilize the  possibilities of the Agreement with the EU," Grigoryan noted,  pointing to corruption crimes.

 In particular, Grigoryan continued, about 5 billion drams were spent  on establishing an airline that ultimately  closed without any  consequences. The MP emphasized the importance of  prioritizing  the  Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement in relations with  the EU.  She noted that the country's executive power has failed  almost all existing initiatives. In this context, the MP expressed  doubt that  negotiations on visa liberalization between Armenia and  the EU would be successful. Regarding the authorities' exaggerated  messages on Meghri, Grigoryan noted that in reality Azerbaijani  President Heydar Aliyev proposed exchanging the Meghri region of  Armenia for Nagorno-Karabakh during a meeting in Key West.

 As a result of the negotiations, the OSCE Minsk Group formed a  position stating that Nagorno-Karabakh along with the Lachin corridor  became part of Armenia's territory, while the Nakhichevan autonomy  received a connection with Azerbaijan. At the same time, the Meghri  issue was never addressed in any document. "Let's not mislead people,  let's not lie to them. Today, Nagorno-Karabakh, along with the Lachin  corridor, is surrounded and occupied by Azerbaijan, yet you are  talking about the establishing a connection between Azerbaijan and  Nakhichevan through Armenia's territory. Do you truly understand the  difference between words and reality? Have you been to Meghri? Let me  take you to Meghri, which Kocharyan "surrendered", and you take me to  Karabakh, which you claim to have "kept", - Grigoryan said,  addressing the deputy from the ruling faction.