Opposition Strong Armenia says it seeks to deepen trade and institutional ties with EU

Strong Armenia will seek to use its leadership of the parliamentary Committee on European Integration to push for greater trade with Europe and deeper adoption of European institutions, faction leader Narek Karapetyan said.

The faction is entitled to nominate its candidate for the committee chairmanship.

“We are going to intensify the working process and show the public that we are genuinely seeking diversification. Genuine diversification means increasing trade turnover with Europe and localizing European institutions.

“We will work actively so that the public can see that the claim that we support improving relations with only one side is incorrect,” he said, referring to Strong Armenia’s perceived pro-Russia stance.

“We believe Armenia should have several partners so that its economy is stable. That is why you will see the pace at which we will work in this committee,” Karapetyan said.

According to him, a candidate for the committee chairmanship has already been selected, but the name will not be announced yet.

“We will not say at this point. Most likely, it will be tomorrow, and I will present the candidate to you tomorrow,” the faction leader said.

Responding to a question about the strategy for selecting the committee’s leadership, Karapetyan emphasized the importance of using its members’ professional experience to advance Armenia’s national interests on European platforms as well.

“The institutional experience and presence of the committee members should also help advance our national issues on European platforms. We need people who are ready to work every day and finally activate the committee.

“We say that the country has a pro-European direction, but trade turnover is dozens of times lower than with the EAEU. We are not adopting good European institutions. We take only the name, the brand, and the marketing, but we do not adopt the important components, such as the independence of the judiciary and the protection and development of civil society,” Karapetyan said.