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Armenians to rally against EEU integration

14 November 2014 [11:58] - TODAY.AZ

/AzerNews/

By Mushvig Mehdiyev

A group of residents are planning to stage a protest rally against Armenia's EEU-focused foreign policy on November 14.

The people and government in Armenia cannot play the same song about EEU integration due to disagreement over the membership at the Russia-led alliance.

The government backs the integration into the economic union, while the people, particularly pro-European residents call on the authorities to withdraw from their decision.

"Our country will face threats to its independence, sovereignty and opportunities for free development," the rally organizers said.

The protesters plan to hold the rally in front of the Constitutional Court at 10:00 a.m, on November, demanding the court to recognize the agreement on the EEU integration unconstitutional.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan put pen to the agreement on the country's joining the Russia-led economic union on October 10. The Constitutional Court should review the document at 10:00 a.m, on November 14. Thus, the rally organizers intend to hold the protest gathering at the same time with the court's approval of the agreement.

They called on the Armenian residents to join the protest rally to prevent the shameful process, which can turn into a scandalous historical reality for the post-Soviet nation.

The Armenian parliament will discuss the agreement on the Eurasian Economic Union membership on November 17 and intends to ratify the document by the end of 2015.

Artur Sakunts, Head of the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Citzens' Assemby said the EEU format contradicts the Armenian constitution.

"Agreement on joining the EEU should be directly ratified by the residents through a referendum. Power in Armenia belongs to the people, that's why Armenian authorities should take the people's opinion into consideration," Sakunts said.

The country is very close to the official EEU entry, but the society still lacks a unanimous opinion about membership at the Russia-led alliance. APR Group, a leading group of public surveys, has recently published the data about the integration preferences of Armenian residents.

Results of the survey revealed the people in Armenia had different positions in respect to the membership at the EEU. Some 38.4 percent of the surveyed residents supported the EEU membership, while about 24.8 percent emerged to be pro-Europeans to support the integration into the European Union. Around 11.8 percent said integrating into both alliances would be beneficial for Armenia, since nearly 10.1 percent preferred to ignore any alliance. About 15 percent found it difficult to answer.

The local and foreign economic experts has repeatedly warned that Armenia's economy will bear the brunt of the membership in the Eurasian Economic Union.

"Entering into the EEU could trigger inflation rate in the country," Karen Chilingaryan, Head of the non-government organization Consumer Advice Center has earlier said.

Some analysts and political experts say Armenia will find all ways blocked after joining the EEU, which will subsequently strengthen its dependence on Russia. Some political experts even believe that the Kremlin doesn't need Armenia.

The International Monetary Fund has earlier revealed that Armenia's entrance into the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as the geopolitical developments in the region and anti-Russian sanctions have created an uncertain atmosphere impeding economic growth in the country. It sharply reduced this year's economic growth rate for Armenia from 4.8 percent to 2.6 percent, saying the country should get ready for hard days.

The Armenian authorities' modern slogan is "My life, my rules", as they ignore the public opinion in decision-making processes and clandestinely made their decisions.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/regions/137505.html

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