Naira Zohrabyan Says Hostility towards Armenians Reaches Level of State Propaganda in Azerbaijan

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, ARMENPRESS:

Naira Zohrabyan, chairperson of the RA National Assembly Standing Committee on European Integration, met today Ambassador Petr Mareš, the Czech Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs special envoy for the Eastern Partnership, and Eva Kordova, expert on Eastern Partnership.

An official from the NA public relations and media department told Armenpress that Naira Zohrabyan emphasized the role of the Eastern Partnership and also expressed some concerns, particularly connected with the fact that the Azerbaijani party intends to make the newly-formed Euronest Parliamentary Assembly a platform of conflicts.

According to Naira Zohrabyan, in case the EU member-states allow Azerbaijan to do this, this important format, which is to promote the formation of one of the Eastern Partnership's

most important principles – formation of multilateral and bilateral relations – will be condemned.

Presenting the stance of the Armenian party, Naira Zohrabyan stated once again that Armenia is ready to partake in the formation of an agenda of common issues in the region. However the Azerbaijani party has stated on an official level for many times that both in Eastern Partnership and any other format it refuses to cooperate with Armenia.

Naira Zohrabyan says it is high time for the European Union to respond to the non-constructive approach by Azerbaijan, which endeavors to adjust the Eastern Partnership's fundamental philosophy to Azerbaijan's agenda. Speaking on the Azerbaijani party's intolerance, Naira Zohrabyan said hostility towards Armenians has reached the level of state propaganda in Azerbaijan.

As to the objectives of Armenia's European integration, Naira Zohrabyan said in contrast to some neighbors, in particular Azerbaijan, which tends to "buy an imitation of European integration, Armenia considers it an important priority, as it understands that democracy is our only resource. The speaker also mentioned that Armenia is interested in the political association with the European Union and economic integration.

A number of other issues were discussed at the meeting.