Ashotyan presents RPA`s proposals to inform EPC summit participants  about key challenges facing Armenia

ArmInfo.  Armen Ashotyan, Deputy Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), presented his party's proposals to the opposition and citizens for informing  the participants of the upcoming European Political Community summit  in Yerevan about the key challenges facing Armenia.

At a press conference in Yerevan on April 21, Ashotyan stated tha  they specifically intend to discuss the crisis of democracy in  Armenia, or rather, its absence, and raise the issue of the Artsakh  people's right of return and the release of Armenian prisoners of war  held in Baku. The RPA Deputy Chairman also noted that this refers to  a community that was created in 2022-the very day Armenian Prime  Minister Nikol Pashinyan recognized Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan  during the European political summit in Prague.

"And we understand that holding a summit in Yerevan during the  current period (that is, before the parliamentary elections in  Armenia-ed.) is aimed at supporting the current authorities in  Armenia. This is precisely the message of the Yerevan summit, and, in  essence, it contains elements of interference in the pre-election  process," Ashotyan believes.

According to the RPA Deputy Chairman, Pashinyan will attempt to use  this platform to his advantage before the upcoming parliamentary  elections. "For this very reason, the Armenian Prime Minister will do  everything to isolate the representatives of approximately 40  countries arriving in Yerevan from the Armenian people and will  attempt to conceal from them the real picture of what is happening in  the country," the RPA Deputy Chairman asserts. In light of this, as  Ashotyan noted, they are first and foremost proposing their own logo  for the upcoming summit: two circles linked by a chain, symbolizing  handcuffs (in the original, these are two interlocking circles -  ed.), and the slogan "Stop hypocrisy, defend democracy." "We propose  using it during events during the summit. Thus, our message to the  European community will be: this is today's Armenia. These are  people, a nation, a state in shackles. Stop this," Ashotyan  clarified.

Furthermore, he said, they intend to invite various public circles to  present the real situation in Armenia in various languages during  these days, including with the participation of lawyers, attorneys,  human rights defenders, and the media. "And, of course, we intend to  hold civic events, which, as I have already said, will raise the main  issues - the crisis of democracy in Armenia and the Artsakh issue, as  well as the release of Armenian prisoners of war," the RPA deputy  chairman added.  In this regard, he recalled that the Republican  Party of Armenia (RPA) and the Heritage Party are members of the  European People's Party (EPP), the ARF is a member of the Socialist  International,  the Prosperous Armenia party has collaborated with  the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists. The Bright  Armenia party and the Armenian National Congress have collaborated  with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. The Hayakve  initiative is working with the European Patriots faction. "We also  intend to hold talks with an Artsakh party that was once a member of  the European Free Alliance," Ashotyan noted.

According to him, discussions of these proposals with Armenian  political forces are already underway.  Ashotyan reported that some  forces have supported this initiative. He also called on Armenian  citizens who, as part of their activities, will be interacting with  representatives of the European community during these days to  present and communicate the truth. "It's important that we send them  a unified message. This issue must become the concern of every  citizen in Armenia," Ashotyan concluded.

Recall, the 8th European Political Community Summit will be held in  Armenia on May 4. During the summit, more than 40 European leaders,  including non-EU countries such as the United Kingdom, Norway, and  Switzerland, will discuss progress in ensuring peace, security,  transport infrastructure, and prosperity in the South Caucasus, as  well as current global challenges. The following day, the first-ever  Armenia-EU summit will be held, bringing together the heads of EU  institutions to strengthen Armenia's integration with Europe. The  Armenian Foreign Ministry reported that at the first-ever Armenia-EU  summit, Armenia will be represented by Prime Minister Nikol  Pashinyan, and the European Union will be presented by European  Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President  Ursula von der Leyen.