Tsarukyan:  Armenia has driven itself into an artificial choice  between the EU and EAEU

ArmInfo. Armenia has driven itself into an artificial choice between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the European Union (EU), which is currently being imposed by the West and Russia. This opinion was expressed in a new message published on his Facebook page by Gagik Tsarukyan, the imprisoned leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP). 

He noted that the new parliament will always feel a lack of their  party and the program they proposed, " Proposal for Armenia." He  noted that the newly convened parliament will constantly feel the  absence of their party and the "Proposal for Armenia" initiative they  put forward. As Tsarukyan explained, the reason is not a lack of  competent and well-prepared figures, as such deputies exist in all  factions. According to him, the problem lies in the absence of  alternative viewpoints, effective solutions, alternative programmatic  approaches, and a full-fledged force to represent them.

 "In general, I was preparing my team precisely for a deep  programmatic struggle, which, unfortunately, did not take place—and  certainly not through our fault. As you know, for the past 10–15  years I have not been involved in the micromanagement of any business  or routine management processes; the law did not allow it, and in  reality, it no longer held any interest for me. However, this gave me  the opportunity to observe Armenia's economy, its development risks,  and its potential from a macroeconomic perspective. Even now, being  cut off from many information flows and socio-political  micro-processes, I have the opportunity to look at problems from a  macro standpoint. I do not use the expression 'looking from the  outside,' because given my life's path, I cannot and never could  remain on the sidelines of the processes happening in my country. If  I could do that, if I possessed a certain capacity for indifference  toward my country, I would be in completely different conditions,"  Tsarukyan pointed out. 

Speaking on how he views the current situation, the PAP leader noted  that, in his estimation, Armenia is facing major upheavals. He  clarified that this is not about some theoretical future, but a very  real prospect in the coming months.

"Before we have time to blink, we will find ourselves in an extremely  difficult situation. The risks caused by the Russian-Ukrainian  conflict and the confrontation between Iran and the US are already  enough to understand this. I am extremely concerned about our  country's economic problems and the issue of choice artificially  forced upon us: the EU or the EAEU. Both the West and Russia are  presenting us with such an acute choice, but the problem is that we  ourselves have driven ourselves into this rigid, artificial  'watershed.' Add to this situation the demands of Azerbaijan and the  calls of Turkey," Tsarukyan noted.

According to him, this is no longer a question of "sitting on two  chairs," as many naively believe, since two chairs at least leave the  possibility of a choice. The PAP leader believes this is a state  where any decision or step can trigger serious risks and a severe  backlash from the opposing side. In the current situation, according  to Tsarukyan, the central issue of the national agenda must be "what  to do right now so that Armenia does not find itself drawn into major  geopolitical upheavals."

"I do not know how long this parliament will operate; I hear  different versions, but as long as my political force exists, I as  its leader and my team—with whom we always discuss such matters— will  pursue this line: Armenia must not plunge into turmoil due to  geopolitical motives. There are ways, there are steps to reduce the  severity of the situation and avoid being 'crushed' in a collision  between powerful sides. We are obligated to steer our country away  from these ultimatum-driven formulas. This is no longer a matter of a  struggle between the authorities and the opposition. The consequences  will be borne by everyone without exception. This worries me deeply.  Solutions exist—perhaps they are not simple, perhaps they are  complex, perhaps they require great effort, but they exist,"  Tsarukyan concluded.