No direct connection between Armenia’s option for Eurasian Economic Union and domestic instability - expert
13.02.2015,
18:50
Vladimir Yevseev, head of the Public Policy Research Center and chief of the Caucasus Department of the CIS Countries Institute, sees no direct connection between Armenia's geopolitical choice in favor of the Eurasian Economic Union and some instability inside the country.
YEREVAN, February 13. /ARKA/. Vladimir Yevseev, head of the Public Policy Research Center and chief of the Caucasus Department of the CIS Countries Institute, sees no direct connection between Armenia's geopolitical choice in favor of the Eurasian Economic Union and some instability inside the country.
In his online interview with Novosti-Armenia Yevseev pointed out a constitutional reform attempt undertaken by the president’s administration as one of the causes of the instability. «This is absolutely not connected with Eurasian integration,» he said.
«This is a different matter that some western countries are trying to take advantage of present problems to destabilize things in Armenia, and they have a rich negative experience in this area. Russian and Armenian expert community's duty is to resist vigorously such attempts.»
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, speaking yesterday at the session, slammed the activity of Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of Prosperous Armenia.
The president said the latter will be stripped of his National Security Council membership. He said Tsarukyan, a as a political actor, is evil for the country.
The president said that Tsarukyan was present at only 4 sessions out of 145 of the National Assembly in 2013-2014 and that MPs from the Republican Party of Armenia will take necessary steps «to get out of this absurd situation».
He also ordered a scrutiny to see whether the rumors of billion-dram tax evasion by Tsarukyan are grounded on the reality or not.
On Monday, Tsarukyan, speaking at a meeting of senior members of his party, responded to the accusations by saying that he was offered the post of president of the country but only after constitutional reforms that would turn Armenia into a parliamentary republic.
The reform is aimed at enabling Sargsyan to stay in power after the end of his second and final presidential term in 2018. Tsarukyan said he declined the offer causing Sargsyan’s anger.
The constitutional reform was launched in Armenia on September 4, 2013 after a professional commission was set up for amending the Constitution.
On October 15, 2014, the constitutional reform concept was unveiled. Transition to parliamentary republic was among the changes implied by the concept.
Prosperous Armenia is the second largest force in the parliament controlling 36 seats. It was part of coalition governments from 2007 to 2012. Now it positions itself as an alternative political force.
The online conference was organized by Region Research Center unde support from the U.S. embassy in Armenia. ---0-----
