Armenpress
ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS FRENCH “NO’ TO EU CONSTITUTION WOULD HARM
ARMENIA’S INTERESTS
YEREVAN, MAY 24, ARMENPRESS: As polls in France indicate that more and
more voters will vote “No” to the European Constitution in the 29 May
referendum, Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian argued in an interview
to Armenpress that the “No” of the French may lead to complexities within
the European Union, as France’s demeanor as of a key European player is
likely to predestine, in many respects, future development in the Continent.
“I simply cannot imagine France and the French, the driving force of the
EU to move in a different direction at this critical point,’ Oskanian said,
arguing that the “No” vote would result in the decreased role and influence
of France in Europe, which would in turn damage Armenia’s interests, as
France is a defender and a proponent of further strengthening of ties with
Armenia in view of its recent inclusion in European Neighborhood Policy
(ENP).
Oskanian said also that he could understand French Armenians’ concerns
who called recently on president Chirac to postpone the October 3 talks with
Turkey over its EU membership. “Armenia has too expressed its concerns over
Turkey’s failure to meet a set of EU membership requirements, particularly
its persistent denial of the Armenian genocide and the blockade of Armenia,
but we do not see any connection between the European Constitution and
Turkey’s EU membership,” Oskanian said.
“On the contrary, we believe that by saying “Yes” to the Constitution the
French would make their country’s position stronger on the European stage,
which would benefit also Armenia,’ Oskanian said. A majority of decided
voters would reject the European Constitution in France, according to a poll
by Ipsos published in Le Figaro. 51 per cent of respondents would oppose the
body of law in this month’s referendum. The governing center-right Union for
a Popular Movement (UMP) and the left-left Socialist Party (PS) are both in
favor of the European Constitution. The Communist Party (PC) and the
right-wing National Front (FN) have rejected the proposed body of law. The
constitution requires ratification from all member states to come into
effect in November 2006.