At least 50% of Armenia`s nationals for country`s accession to EU -  Artak Zeynalyan

ArmInfo. At least half of the country's citizens are in favor of Armenia's accession to the  European Union. A representative of the civil initiative to collect  citizens' signatures, co-chairman of the Republic party, former RA  Minister of Justice Artak Zeynalyan made a similar statement at an  extraordinary meeting of the RA National Assembly Committee on  European Integration on March 3.

Presenting the document, Zeynalyan noted that no substantive changes  had been made to the bill for the second reading. Only the country's  government made its proposal, which is rather editorial in nature.  The former minister recalled that the initiative to develop the law  was put forward by three political parties and one bloc, which formed  a civil initiative to collect signatures. According to the current  legislation, upon collecting 50 thousand signatures, the issue can be  submitted to parliament for consideration. The initiative managed to  collect over 60 thousand signatures of residents of the republic,  which predetermined the development of the draft law.

The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia adopted the draft  law "On the beginning of the process of Armenia's accession to the  European Union" in the first reading at the plenary session on  February 12.  63 deputies voted for the adoption of the document,  with 7 against. The opposition, represented by the "Armenia" faction,  did not participate in the vote, and another opposition faction, "I  have the honor", voted against.

Zeynalyan emphasized that since the adoption of the document in the  first reading, there has already been a positive reaction from  European structures and EU member states. Moreover, statements were  made not only at the political level, but also at the economic level.  In particular, the grant programs for assistance to Armenia,  previously rejected by the European Union, have been put back on the  agenda by the EU itself.  These programs are aimed at bringing the  country's legislation in line with European standards. In addition, a  forum with the participation of the Baltic states was held in  Yerevan, during which numerous messages and statements were sent to  the republic. 

In response to a question from Armen Gevorgyan, a member of the  National Assembly from the opposition faction "Armenia", about  whether there are specific assurances from the European Commission,  including on the issue of ensuring a safe environment, the  representative of the civil initiative assured that with European  integration, the level of security of the country will increase  significantly. He added that if the referendum on joining the EU had  been held on September 21 (Armenia's Independence Day - ed.), as the  authors of the initiative insisted on, the country would be in a much  more advantageous position today.

In turn, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia Paruyr  Hovhannisyan noted that the country's government does not object to  the adoption of the submitted draft law. He noted that after the  first reading, the fourth meeting of the Armenia-EU parliamentary  partnership was held, following which it was stated that the EU  welcomes Yerevan's focus on Europe. The statement adopted following  the forum called on the RA government and EU structures to implement  a number of programs aimed at bringing the RA legislation in line  with European standards. On behalf of the Cabinet, the Deputy  Minister proposed to remove the precondition from the submitted  document, which will simplify the draft law.

Hovhannisyan said that the development of a new partnership agenda  with the EU is nearing completion.  This agenda will not only  supplement the current Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership  Agreement, but will also fill it with new areas of cooperation. The  Deputy Minister added that the issue of Armenian prisoners of war  held in Baku prisons is raised during meetings with European  officials at all levels. "We cannot say that specific steps and  actions satisfy us, but we must continue working. As you know, there  are closed behind-the-scenes processes in diplomacy. In this sense,  work with both Brussels and individual EU countries continues,"  Hovhannisyan said. Let us recall that, according to the draft law,  the purpose of the document is to confirm the will and determination  of the people of the country, its current authorities to join the EU  - the family of advanced, civilized and developed humanity. The  adoption of the law will determine the direction, scale of decisions,  as well as practical issues facing both the current and future  authorities of the country. In the current geopolitical situation,  the law, as well as the form and means of its adoption, will increase  Armenia's resistance.