IS ARMENIA LEFT OUT FROM REGIONAL PROGRAMS OR NOT?

A1+
[06:04 pm] 31 May, 2007

The "Republican Party of Armenia" and the "Heritage" party presented
models of foreign affairs of the mentioned parties. "The position
of "Heritage" party has not altered and will not alter", insured
Stepan Safaryan, director of Armenian Center for National and
International Studies and added: "The RA external policy has no
scientific motivation and does not reflect the country’s interests,
thus resulting in Armenian’s isolation. Armenia stays out of regional
programs". Safaryan pointed out three main processes omitted from the
RA foreign policy: "Conflict resolution processes, energetic programs
of the region and problems on Iran nuclear issues on which Armenia does
not have any definite position". Reflecting on the recent statements
of Azerbaijani authorities, Stepan Safaryan noted: "Azerbaijan tries
to shift Nagorno-Karabakh issue into pro-Azerbaijani context".

Confirming Safaryan’s point that the RA foreign policy should be
amended, the RA NA deputy and "Republican Party of Armenian" party
member Armen Ashotyan stated: "Tactical methods should be altered
in our policy but not strategic. Armenia’s balanced foreign policy,
called complementary, should become multi-vector. The RA should
co-operate with all the powers which solve two main problems: they
can solve Armenia’s problems and may have vital influence on Armenia".

Armen Ashotyan finds that the RA is not left out from regional
programs: "We do not participate since their price is Karabakh". As
to the energetic issues, he noted that the greatest project in the
region would be the construction of second nuclear plant in Armenia by
which Armenia would reinforce its role as an energy exporting country.

The debating parties did not agree upon a number of issues, but
stated that the "Republican Party of Armenian" and the "Heritage"
party may collaborate in future. The parties also confessed that
they were incompatible in a common coalition for the absence of
mutual confidence.